The NZ Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia Study (FTDGeNZ) is a multidisciplinary, inter-institutional initiative in search of pre-clinical diagnostic markers of dementia in a large New Zealand family. Dr Brigid Ryan is leading this study in the Centre for Brain Research in the University of Auckland. The aim of FTDGeNZ is to identify accurate markers of disease onset, risk and progression that are relevant to both familial and sporadic FTD. The focus is on non-invasive, cost-effective diagnostic markers, in the hope that they will ultimately be used widely as a screening tool. Understanding the natural course of FTD may also elucidate the pathological processes underlying related dementias. This is the only study of its kind in New Zealand and one of the largest pre-clinical studies of a family cohort with a single mutation internationally. Dr Ryan and some participants recently spoke about this study on “Our Changing World” podcast.
Click here to listen to the Podcast and read a news article on Radio New Zealand.
