Summary: New research from the University of Eastern Finland indicates that a prior traumatic brain injury (TBI) raises the likelihood of developing frontotemporal dementia (FTD) among people without a known genetic cause. The studies also find that, on average, people with FTD have lower educational attainment than those with Alzheimer’s disease, and that some cardiovascular factors differ between genetic and non‑genetic FTD cases.
Source: University of Eastern Finland
Two new studies from the University of Eastern Finland examine how education, cardiovascular health, and prior head injury relate to the risk and characteristics of frontotemporal dementia.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a leading cause of early‑onset dementia and encompasses a range of disorders that primarily affect behavior, language, and certain cognitive processes. While a number of genetic mutations are known to cause or increase the risk of FTD, less is known about non‑genetic, potentially modifiable risk factors that could influence disease onset and progression.
One of the studies compared clinical characteristics between people with FTD and those with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), using detailed data from more than 1,000 patients drawn from Finnish and Italian cohorts and representing the major FTD subtypes. The analysis found that patients diagnosed with FTD were, on average, less educated than those with AD. Within the FTD group, individuals with sporadic (non‑familial) disease tended to have lower educational attainment and a higher prevalence of cardiac disease than FTD patients who carried known pathogenic mutations.
A complementary study focused specifically on traumatic brain injury. That work found a higher prevalence of prior TBI among people with FTD compared with matched Alzheimer’s patients and healthy controls, and the association was particularly pronounced in sporadic FTD cases. In addition, FTD patients who had experienced a head injury tended to develop symptoms at an earlier age than those without such a history.
Taken together, the findings suggest that different FTD subtypes and genetic versus sporadic cases present distinct profiles of potentially modifiable risk factors. These distinctions point to opportunities for improved understanding of disease mechanisms and, possibly, preventive strategies aimed at individuals at higher risk.
Doctoral Researcher and lead author Helmi Soppela of the University of Eastern Finland notes that the results “offer a better understanding of the disease mechanisms and, possibly in the future, an opportunity to prevent frontotemporal dementia.” The TBI study was published in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and the analysis of modifiable risk factors appeared in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
About this frontotemporal dementia research news
Author: Press Office
Source: University of Eastern Finland
Contact: Press Office – University of Eastern Finland
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Original Research: Closed access. “Traumatic Brain Injury Associates with an Earlier Onset in Sporadic Frontotemporal Dementia” by Helmi Soppela et al., Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
Open access. “Modifiable potential risk factors in familial and sporadic frontotemporal dementia” by Helmi Soppela et al., Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
Abstract
Traumatic Brain Injury Associates with an Earlier Onset in Sporadic Frontotemporal Dementia
Background: Research into modifiable risk factors for frontotemporal dementia is limited. This retrospective case‑control study evaluated whether a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a diagnosis of FTD, modifies clinical presentation, or affects the age at symptom onset.
Methods: The study compared prior TBI prevalence among individuals with FTD (N = 218), age‑ and sex‑matched patients with Alzheimer’s disease (N = 214), and healthy controls (N = 100). Medical records were used to identify lifetime history of TBI. Associations between TBI history and age of onset or disease duration were analyzed for the entire FTD cohort and separately for sporadic versus genetic FTD cases.
Results: Previous TBI was most common in the FTD group (19.3%), compared with the AD group (13.1%, p = 0.050) and healthy controls (12%, p = 0.108). Prior TBI was significantly more frequent in sporadic FTD cases than in FTD cases carrying the C9orf72 repeat expansion (p = 0.003). Among FTD patients, those with a history of TBI developed symptoms earlier than those without such a history (B = 3.066, p = 0.010).
Conclusion: A history of TBI is associated particularly with sporadic FTD and with an earlier age at symptom onset, suggesting that head injury may act as a trigger for neurodegenerative processes in susceptible individuals. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms behind this association.
Abstract
Modifiable potential risk factors in familial and sporadic frontotemporal dementia
Objective
Few studies have assessed modifiable risk factors for frontotemporal dementia. This investigation evaluated several potentially changeable factors and their relationships with clinical phenotype, genetic status, and prognosis in a large cohort of Finnish and Italian FTD patients and matched control groups.
Methods
In this case–control analysis, researchers compared the presence of cardiovascular conditions, other lifestyle‑related diseases, and educational attainment among Finnish and Italian patients with familial FTD (n = 376) and sporadic FTD (n = 654). A subgroup analysis compared Finnish FTD patients (n = 221) with matched Finnish Alzheimer’s patients (n = 214) and cognitively healthy controls (n = 100).
Results
Sporadic FTD patients showed lower educational attainment (p = 0.042) and a higher rate of cardiac disease (p < 0.001; OR = 2.265) than familial FTD patients. Compared with Alzheimer’s patients, the Finnish FTD group had lower average education (p = 0.032). The Finnish FTD cohort also showed a lower prevalence of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia than control groups. Within the FTD population, clinical subtypes differed in their associations with education and lifestyle‑related factors.
Interpretation
The study identifies distinct profiles of modifiable factors across FTD phenotypes and between familial and sporadic cases, suggesting that especially sporadic FTD may be influenced by changeable health and lifestyle factors. These insights could help guide future research on prevention and targeted interventions for people at risk of FTD.