Frontotemporal Dementia: Genes, Images, and Emotions (patient-oriented overview)
Official title: Frontotemporal Dementia: Genes, Images, and Emotions
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11523159 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term research program at UC San Francisco aims to understand how genetic and brain-image findings relate to the emotions and daily life of people affected by frontotemporal dementia and to develop better ways to track and diagnose the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2002 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $27,000 |
| NIH project number | 3P01AG019724-24S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11523159 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with or at risk for frontotemporal dementia and their caregivers.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not directly benefit if the study focuses on biomarkers or caregiver assessments without immediate clinical impact.
What this research studies
This program brings together four projects and several cores to study how FTD changes thinking, behavior, and emotions, and to turn those insights into practical tools for monitoring disease and spotting biomarkers in blood. Researchers will use new brain-imaging methods and computer tools to predict pathology and measure how the disease progresses. They will also examine caregiver well-being and identify why patients progress differently, with the goal of guiding future therapies and clinical trials. The project includes recruiting patients and caregivers to gather data and evaluate potential biomarkers and care strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis, better monitoring of disease progression, and improved options for treatment and caregiver support.
How similar studies have gone: Previous groups have shown promise in identifying biomarkers and imaging markers for neurodegenerative diseases, but this program aims to integrate genetics, imaging, and emotion research specifically for FTD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gorno Tempini, Maria Luisa — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Gorno Tempini, Maria Luisa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Investigating how DNA damage and repair mechanisms are altered in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
This study is looking at how problems with DNA repair might contribute to conditions like ALS and frontotemporal dementia, and it’s testing ways to fix these issues in cells from patients to help develop new treatments.
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Exploring how oxidative stress and ferroptosis affect frontotemporal dementia
A study using human iPSC-derived neurons from people with frontotemporal dementia to see how reactive oxygen species and a cell death process called ferroptosis relate to disease features.
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Automated language analysis for Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English speakers
A low-cost, automated speech and language analysis tool is being developed to help identify Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English-speaking people.
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Automated language analysis for Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia across Latino and English-speaking groups
A low-cost, automated language study aims to help diagnose and understand Alzheimer’s and FTD in diverse Spanish- and English-speaking communities.
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Automated language analysis to help diagnose Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English speakers
A low-cost, computer-based method analyzes speech and language to help identify Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English-speaking people.
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Automated language analysis for Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English-speaking communities
A low-cost, computer-based language analysis method is being developed to help identify Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English-speaking people.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.