# Cytokine and Leukocyte Profiling Reveal Pro-Inflammatory and Autoimmune Features in Frontotemporal Dementia Patients

## TL;DR

This study finds that frontotemporal dementia is linked to immune system changes, including pro-inflammatory and autoimmune features in patients' blood.

## Contribution

The study introduces novel, unbiased tools to detect immune-related abnormalities in frontotemporal dementia.

## Key findings

- Abnormal T cell populations were identified in frontotemporal dementia patients.
- Autoimmune features were observed in the blood of these patients.
- Pro-inflammatory signals were found to correlate with brain health in the condition.

## Abstract

The growing link between systemic environment and brain function opens the possibility that cellular communication and composition in blood are correlated with brain health. We tested this concept in frontotemporal dementia with novel, unbiased tools that measure hundreds of soluble signaling proteins or characterize the vast immune cell repertoire in blood. With these tools we discovered complementary abnormalities indicative of abnormal T cell populations and autoimmunity in frontotemporal dementia.