Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the most common form of dementia that starts at a younger age, usually between 40 and 65. It damages the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain—areas responsible for personality, language, and memory.
People with FTD may show unusual behavior, have trouble speaking or writing, and gradually lose memory and thinking skills. Sadly, there are currently no effective treatments for this disease.
A new study by scientists from the University of Kentucky and other institutions has found a hopeful lead. They discovered that a group of antibiotics, called aminoglycosides, may help treat a specific genetic form of FTD. Some people with FTD have a gene mutation that stops their brain cells from making a protein called progranulin.
This protein is important for brain health, though researchers are still learning exactly what it does. What is known is that a lack of progranulin is linked to the development of this type of dementia.
In the study, researchers looked at how aminoglycoside antibiotics affected brain cells carrying this mutation. Surprisingly, when they added these antibiotics to the cells, the cells began to produce the full progranulin protein again. The antibiotics somehow helped the cells “skip over” the mutation, allowing them to make a working version of the protein.
Two specific antibiotics—Gentamicin and G418—were especially effective. When either of these was added to the damaged cells, progranulin levels rose to about 50–60% of normal levels. This is an exciting finding, because boosting progranulin in people with this mutation could potentially slow down or prevent symptoms of FTD.
These results are early, coming from lab studies in cells, but they offer a starting point for future drug development. The next step is to test the antibiotics in mice that carry the same mutation. Scientists also hope to design new drugs based on Gentamicin and G418 that work in a similar way but have fewer side effects.
Although Gentamicin is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its use in people is limited. It can cause harmful side effects, including damage to the ears and kidneys, especially when taken in high doses or over a long period. Because of this, researchers aim to create safer and more targeted versions of the drug.
The study, led by Haining Zhu and published in Human Molecular Genetics, gives new hope to those affected by frontotemporal dementia. While there is still a long way to go before this treatment can be used in people, it marks an important step toward understanding and potentially treating a devastating disease.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about dietary strategies to ward off dementia, and how omega-3 fatty acids fuel your mind.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Choline deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and what to eat (and avoid) for dementia prevention.
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