title: Biomarkers: a new approach to behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lobar frontotemporal degeneration (FTLD) encompasses a group of molecular disease defined by the deposition of an abnormal protein in the central nervous system. Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is the most frequent clinical presentation of FTLD. The past two decades of research have contributed to a better understanding of this entity, which may be the first manifestation in many different neurodegenerative disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed correlations between clinical, pathological, and genetic findings and the main disease biomarkers of FTLD, with particular interest in bvFTD. Anatomical pathology findings in FTLD are heterogeneous and the syndrome is not associated with any one specific histopathological type. Promising available biomarkers include structural and functional neuroimaging techniques and biochemical and genetic biomarkers. Disease-modifying drugs designed for specific molecular targets that are implicated in FTLD pathogenesis are being developed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BvFTD is a frequent cause of dementia. Of all the clinical variants of FTLD, behavioural variant is the one in which establishing a correlation between clinical and pathological signs is the most problematic. A biomarker evaluation may help predict the underlying pathology; this approach, in conjunction with the development of disease-modifying drugs, offers new therapeutic possibilities.
authors: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España. Electronic address: martafmatarrubia@gmail.com.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fernández-Matarrubia
authors: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Matías-Guiu
authors: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Moreno-Ramos
authors: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Matías-Guiu
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D057180:Frontotemporal Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D059906:Neuroimaging; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C054369:MAPT protein, human; D016875:tau Proteins
keywords: Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia; Biomarcador; Biomarker; Degeneración lobar frontotemporal; Demencia frontotemporal variante conductual; Frontotemporal lobar degeneration; Genetics; Genética; TDP-43; Tau