Reduced plasma hexosylceramides in frontotemporal dementia are a biomarker of white matter integrity
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Blood biomarkers are needed to facilitate new therapeutic trials and improve management of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Since altered white matter integrity is characteristic of bvFTD, this study aimed to determine if plasma levels of myelin-enriched glycolipids are altered in bvFTD and correlate with white matter integrity. METHODS: = 26) plasma samples. White matter integrity was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived fiber tract density and cross-section (FDC). RESULTS: Eleven lipids were significantly lower in bvFTD compared to control subjects, and seven were inversely correlated with disease duration, with C22:0 hexosylceramide most strongly correlated. FDC was lower in frontotemporal white matter tracts of bvFTD compared to control subjects, and plasma C22:0 hexosylceramide was significantly correlated with FDC of these tracts in bvFTD but not control subjects. DISCUSSION: Circulating glycolipids may be a valuable biomarker of myelin integrity and disease progression in FTD. Highlights: Blood biomarkers are needed for behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD).Plasma hexosylceramides are reduced in bvFTD cases compared with normal controls.Plasma hexosylceramides correlate with disease duration in bvFTD.Plasma hexosylceramides correlate with brain white matter integrity in bvFTD.Plasma glycolipids have potential as biomarkers of disease progression in bvFTD.
DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70131
Institution: The University of Sydney
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,540
Awards: Maximising quality of life in frontotemporal dementia, Mutations in genes causal of white matter disease and dysregulation of lipid metabolism in frontotemporal dementias, G5010192015, Bridging the clinico-pathological divide: improving neuroimaging analysis and applications in dementia, Frontotemporal dementia and motor neurodegenerative syndromes, Towards treatments for non-Alzheimer neurodegenerative diseases by establishing their biology from presymptomatic to terminal stages, Targeting lipid signalling receptors to promote remyelination in multiple sclerosis
OpenAlex ID: W4411078112