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FTD and AFTD Now Included in Federal Research Portfolio
AFTD has been added to the International Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Research Portfolio (IADRP), an online database of worldwide research projects supported by public and private funding. This represents the first time an organization focused on the study of a…
Alector Receives Orphan Drug Designation for FTD Therapy
In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug designation to Alector for the continued development of AL001, a human recombinant monoclonal antibody designed for the treatment of FTD caused by mutations in the progranulin gene. In…
Penn FTD Center Scientist Receives AFTD’s First Pilot Grant for Nonpharmacological Research
AFTD has awarded Lauren Massimo, Ph.D., CRNP, the inaugural AFTD Pilot Grant for Nonpharmacological Therapies and Tools. Dr. Massimo, an assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and a member of the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, will…
“Days of Our Lives” Star Martha Madison Raises FTD Awareness at Dallas Marathon
A team of 20 taking part in the BMW Dallas Marathon (December 7-9) will run to raise awareness of young-onset dementia and support The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, the country’s leading nonprofit focused on FTD. Runners include Texas native and Days of Our Lives star Martha…
Photo Essay Captures Couple’s FTD Journey
A photo essay published on October 30 in The Guardian chronicled an Australian couple’s FTD journey and ongoing devotion to one other, even as the disease progresses. Gladys Saroli began displaying FTD symptoms, including combativeness and aggression, during a 2013…
Apathy Highlighted as FTD Symptom in U.S. News & World Report Article
U.S. News & World Report published an article on September 7 highlighting apathy as a symptom of and warning sign for FTD and other forms of dementia, often developing months or years before a diagnosis is made. The article highlights…
AFTD Regional Coordinator Volunteer Speaks at NAPA Meeting
On July 30, Sarah Sozansky Beil, an AFTD Regional Coordinator Volunteer for the Middle Atlantic region, delivered remarks before a meeting of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Advisory Council. She spoke about her personal experiences with FTD — her…
Support AFTD’S Mission Year Round: Become a Monthly Donor Today
There are a lot of different ways to become involved in AFTD’s mission. For some, like Susan Miller Abbott, who volunteers as a Support Group Facilitator, choosing one way simply isn’t enough. “I also make a monthly donation to AFTD…
AFTD Announces New Awards Supporting Preclinical Drug Development and Biomarker Research
AFTD is pleased to announce awards in two grant programs that support FTD drug development: Accelerating Drug Discovery for Frontotemporal Degeneration, which funds preclinical research in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, and the FTD Biomarkers Initiative. Thomas Kukar,…
Spotlight on… Sandra Grow, AFTD Board of Directors
Since her husband Karl was diagnosed with FTD, Sandra Grow has been driven by the need to better educate healthcare professionals about this disease, and to spread awareness of FTD throughout the general public. Over the last 10 years, she…