Source
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Building 10, Room 7D43, MSC 1440, Bethesda, MD 20892-1440, USA. hueye@ninds.nih.gov
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders are a set of neurodegenerative disorders affecting the frontal and anterior temporal lobes. They are often fatal, and currently no medications have been shown to slow their progression. Recent developments in understanding these disorders may aid in developing treatments.
OBJECTIVE:
To discuss the development of drug therapies for frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders, both those under current investigation and those that could be targets for future investigation.
METHODS:
This review is divided into four sections: First, a brief review of frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders; second, a discussion of the challenges in the development of drug therapies third, a review of the current clinical trials; and finally a discussion of some recent discoveries, which have sparked new areas of investigation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Hopefully, advances in understanding of frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders and clinical trial design will aid the development of new treatments.