# Frontotemporal Dementia: Genes, Images, and Emotions

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $19,299

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The PPG titled "Frontotemporal Dementia: Genes, Images and Emotions” has four Projects and five Cores.
Project 3 probes socioemotional function to find optimal predictors using, multi-method laboratory and home
assessments to separate frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and mood disorders (MD),
and to define brain regions that underlie emotion. Project 4 aims to improve diagnosis of behavioral variant
FTD (bvFTD) versus AD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD) while studying the value
of clinical, imaging, and other biomarker techniques to diagnose the different molecular causes for bvFTD.
Project 6 uses novel models of network-based prediction grounded in task-free fMRI (tf-fMRI) to predict
atrophy, the spread of atrophy, and progression of the tau PET signal in patients with suspected FTLD with
tau, to elucidate disease mechanisms and refine methodology for research and treatment trials. Project 7
studies the language and non-language features of the 3 PPA subtypes svPPA, nfvPPA and logopenic variant
PPA and will determine their longitudinal progression and improve their molecular diagnosis. Core A
(Administrative and Clinical Core) evaluates PPG patients and collects clinical and biomarker measures. A new
group with MDD and BD will be studied with the same measures used in FTD and AD. Core B
(Neuropathology Core) will define FTLD, AD, and other pathology in our autopsied patients, while serving as a
gold standard for diagnosis in all PPG projects. It will supply samples to basic scientists. Core C (Data
Management and Biostatistics Core) will manage and facilitate visualization of PPG data and will offer
biostatistical consultation across the cores. Core D (Genetics Core) will determine genetic mutations and risk
genes in the PPG cohort and explore the role of whole exome and whole genome analyses and gene
expression profiles to predict FTLD and AD subtypes. Core E (Imaging Core) will acquire and analyze MRI and
PET images for research studies 3,4,6, and 7 and will use PET combined (amyloid [PIB] and tau [AV1451]) to
detect and stage AD pathology and to explore the utility of AV1451 for detecting and tracking tau pathology in
FTD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10447303
- **Project number:** 3P01AG019724-20S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** BRUCE L MILLER
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $19,299
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2002-09-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10447303

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10447303, Frontotemporal Dementia: Genes, Images, and Emotions (3P01AG019724-20S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10447303. Licensed CC0.

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