Brain Sciences (Feb 2021)

Blood Biomarkers in Frontotemporal Dementia: Review and Meta-Analysis

  • Sofia Ntymenou,
  • Ioanna Tsantzali,
  • Theodosis Kalamatianos,
  • Konstantinos I. Voumvourakis,
  • Elisabeth Kapaki,
  • Georgios Tsivgoulis,
  • George Stranjalis,
  • George P. Paraskevas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020244
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 2
p. 244

Abstract

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Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are useful in the differential diagnosis between frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), but require lumbar puncture, which is a moderately invasive procedure that can cause anxiety to patients. Gradually, the measurement of blood biomarkers has been attracting great interest. Testing blood instead of CSF, in order to measure biomarkers, offers numerous advantages because it negates the need for lumbar puncture, it is widely available, and can be repeated, allowing the prediction of disease course. In this study, a systematic review of the existing literature was conducted, as well as meta-analysis with greater emphasis on the most studied biomarkers, p-tau and progranulin. The goal was to give prominence to evidence regarding the use of plasma biomarkers in clinical practice.

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