GENFI - IMPETus Tau PET imaging pilot study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Genetic Frontotemporal dementia Initiative (GENFI) – IMPETus Tau PET imaging pilot study
IRAS ID
165395
Contact name
Jonathan Rohrer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a common cause of young onset dementia. Its effect on people of working age with young families represents a major health and economic burden on society. The only known risk factors for FTD at present are genetic with abnormalities (mutations) in three genes accounting for the majority of familial FTD, called tau, progranulin and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72. There are now promising avenues for treatment of these disorders but we still do not know when drugs should be started. This study investigates people who have genetic (inherited) FTD due mutations in the tau gene, including both people who have developed symptoms and also people who have a risk of developing symptoms in the future because they carry the abnormal genetic mutation. This allows a window into the earliest changes in the disease process. Study participants will have a type of brain imaging called positron emission tomography (PET) in order to investigate the patterns of deposition in the brain of the protein tau. By studying individuals who carry the disease mutation and are thus destined to develop the disease we can understand the development from the very earliest changes, which would be the best time to start any treatment whilst the person remains well. The key objective is to develop imaging markers which help identify the disease at its earliest stage. The eventual aim will be to use these markers in future clinical trials of drugs in genetic FTD.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/2028
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion