Genetic factors in frontotemporal dementia: A review

Abstract

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of neurogenerative dementia, following Alzheimer's disease (AD). FTD is a clinically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorder, which occurs mostly in younger patients under 60 years of age. Several genes were described to be involved in FTD: progranulin (PGRN), microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), fused in sarcoma (FUS), TAR DNA binding protein-43 (TARDBP), valosin-containing protein (VCP), and charged multivesicular body protein 2B (CHMP 2B). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified additional putative FTD risk factor genes, such as transmembrane protein 106B (TMEM106B) or ubiquilin-2 (UBQLN2). Improvements in genetic analysis could enhance the differential diagnosis for neurodegenerative disorders, especially FTD. This review summarized the FTD-associated genes, mutations and the latest methods for genetic analysis. © 2013 Korean Society of Environmental Risk Assessment and Health Science and Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.