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In light of new research, findings suggest two genes located on chromosome 7 and 17 increase the risk of fronto-temporal dementia.
The research, which was published in Nature Genetics looks at a study where an international group of genetic scientists collaborated to collect over 500 well-described cases of FTD that they compared with over 2,000 normal controls of same age and gender distribution.
There are over 15,000 people under the age of 65 with dementia in the UK. FTD is the second most common form of early onset dementia.
‘A gene causing fronto-temporal dementia in some families was identified for the first time last year. This huge new study involving scientists from across the world has revealed two further genes with variants that increase the risk of this devastating condition.
This is very exciting news as finding out what the proteins produced by these genes do could help us understand the processes that cause the condition, leading us closer to finding a treatment or even a cure.
A million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years yet research is desperately under-funded. We must act now.’
