Disentangling FTLD Complexity: Translational Tools and Innovative Biomarkers

Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD) represents a diverse and complex spectrum of diseases, characterized by significant variability in pathology and its spatial and temporal progression within the brain. This heterogeneity is reflected in clinical phenotypes and disease trajectories, making accurate diagnosis and prediction of disease progression still a considerable challenge. Individual factors such as genetic predispositions, vascular influences, and environmental exposures further compound this complexity, underscoring the urgent need for refined diagnostic and prognostic tools.

Advances in neuroimaging and molecular biomarker research have begun to shed light on FTLD intricate mechanisms. Imaging techniques, including structural and functional MRI, FDG PET, and molecular imaging, have been applied to study the disease’s neuropathological progression and its clinical manifestations. These tools have revealed patterns of selective vulnerability and pathological spread, offering insights into disease mechanisms. However, despite these efforts, the ability to predict pathology accumulation, symptom onset, and disease trajectory in individual patients remains limited.

The goal of this Research Topic is to gather cutting-edge research to address the challenges posed by the complexity of FTLD. By integrating translational approaches and innovative biomarkers, we aim to improve the understanding of disease mechanisms, provide predictive models for disease progression, and identify novel therapeutic targets. Specifically, this Topic seeks to:

1. Investigate how pathology propagates across neural networks, focusing on vulnerable brain regions and the interplay between genetic, molecular, and environmental factors.

2. Explore the role of advanced imaging markers in early diagnosis and progression tracking.

3. Develop Predictive Tools by integrating neuroimaging, machine learning, and multimodal data to forecast symptom development, temporo-spatial disease spread, and patient-specific trajectories.

We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Neuroimaging techniques for mapping pathology and its progression in FTLD.

• The interplay of genetic mutations (e.g., C9orf72, GRN, MAPT) with clinical phenotypes and progression.

• Translational applications of innovative tools, including machine learning, in modeling disease trajectories.

• Studies on the integration of biomarkers across imaging, genetic, and molecular platforms.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and case studies. Submissions should present robust methodologies, comprehensive results, and discussions of clinical implications. This Research Topic will provide a platform to advance our understanding of FTLD, foster collaborations across disciplines, and pave the way for more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: FTLD, molecular biomarkers, translational application, C9orf72, GRN, MAPT

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.