Prediagnostic early synaptic disturbances in neurodegenerative diseases

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are neurodegenerative disorders, which show overlapping clinical symptoms with other types of dementia.

SynaDeg consortium, formed by internationally renowned experts in clinical, translational, and preclinical research of neurodegenerative diseases, postulates that it is possible to identify early disease-specific synaptic alterations combined with measurable physiological disturbances, easily monitorable even at home, that could be feasibly implemented to clinical practice for improved early diagnostics of FTD and DLB.

Specific aims are: 1) Identification of early physiological and synaptic changes, which could improve the early diagnosis of FTD and DLB; 2) Seeking new cerebrospinal fluid and blood-based biomarkers indicating synaptic dysfunction; 3) Investigating specific neuropathological and functional alterations underlying synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration and their mechanisms in brain samples and iPSC-neurons from genetic and sporadic FTD and DLB patients; 4) Strengthening collaboration between research community and patient organisations (POs) to promote efficient dissemination of SynaDeg results to both scientific community and lay audience, establish ethical and best practices for patient recruitment for neurodegenerative disease research, and share knowledge on management of these diseases in the health service systems.