Rethinking how we define neurodegenerative diseases
On the surface, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) might seem like unrelated diseases. ALS destroys motor neurons, causing muscle weakness and eventually paralysis. FTD affects the brain's frontal and temporal lobes, affecting language, personality and behavior. LATE is a slowly progressing memory…
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) may seem like distinct diseases, but they share a common biological foundation: a protein called TDP-43. This has led a team of clinicians, researchers, and others to propose a new way of viewing these neurodegenerative conditions.
In a review published in JAMA Neurology, the authors argue that we should focus more on a disease's biological underpinnings rather than its symptoms and other traits (phenotypes). This move could significantly impact biomarker research, clinical trials, and clinical care. The review coins the term TDP-43-associated neurodegenerative disease (TAND) to describe the relationships between TDP-43 and ALS, FTD, LATE, and other severe neurodegenerative conditions.
Understanding TDP-43's role in these diseases could lead to more efficient drug development, as treatments may be applicable across multiple conditions.
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