Frontotemporal dementia is the most common type of dementia that starts early, usually between ages 40 and 65.
This disease affects the front and side parts of the brain, leading to major changes in how people behave, as well as problems with speaking, writing, and memory. Right now, there are no effective treatments for this serious condition.
For some people with frontotemporal dementia, the disease is caused by a genetic mutation that stops brain cells from making an important protein called progranulin. Scientists don’t fully understand what progranulin does, but they do know that not having enough of it is closely linked to the disease.
Now, researchers at the University of Kentucky and their partners have found a potential way to help.
They discovered that a class of antibiotics called aminoglycosides might allow brain cells to produce progranulin again, even with the genetic mutation. This discovery could lead to a new treatment option for patients.
In their study, the scientists tested two aminoglycoside antibiotics: Gentamicin and G418. These drugs were added to brain cells that had the progranulin mutation. The results were encouraging. Both antibiotics helped the cells “skip over” the mutation and produce full-length, working progranulin protein.
After treatment with Gentamicin or G418, the amount of progranulin in the cells rose to about 50–60% of the normal level. This suggests that the antibiotics helped restore progranulin production to a significant degree.
Even though the results look promising, there is still a lot of work to do before this approach can be used to treat people. The next step is to test the antibiotics in mice that have the same mutation, to see how well the treatment works in living animals.
Researchers also want to improve these antibiotics by changing their chemical structure. While Gentamicin is already approved by the FDA and used to treat infections, it can have serious side effects, especially with long-term use.
Scientists hope to develop safer versions of the drugs that still help the brain produce progranulin.
The study was led by Dr. Haining Zhu and published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics. It marks an important step forward in the search for a treatment for frontotemporal dementia.
If future research supports these findings, doctors may one day be able to offer a real treatment for this difficult and life-changing disease. That would bring hope to many people and families affected by early-onset dementia.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about the power of healthy fats for brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
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