Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): A Giving Smarter Guide
Brain Disorders
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a family of neurodegenerative disorders that affect mood, language, and behavior. Receiving an FTD diagnosis is deeply challenging for patients and their families, as life expectancy averages only 7.5 years after symptoms start, and there are no FTD-specific therapies available.
In 2022, the Kissick Family Foundation partnered with SPARC to analyze the FTD funding landscape. The resulting report, Frontotemporal Dementia: A Giving Smarter Guide, identifies key areas where philanthropic funding could transform FTD research, care, and treatment. These include imperatives to:
- improve our understanding of all FTD types inclusive of those with no known genetic cause
- develop biomarkers to allow for definitive FTD diagnosis and accelerate therapeutic development
- increase FTD patient engagement
- raise FTD awareness and increase support for clinicians and families
Philanthropic support in these areas could significantly enhance outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by FTD.