Acurastem Receives CIRM Grant for Targeted Therapeutic Program for ALS/FTD
Biotechnology company AcuraStem announced that it has received a $4 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) for its targeted therapeutic program for ALS and FTD. The funding will support the company’s program focused on the UNC13A gene, which plays a crucial role in the progression of ALS and FTD. AcuraStem is…
Read MoreDear HelpLine: Social Security Benefits for People with FTD
Dear HelpLine, My dad is 55 and had to leave his job after he was diagnosed with FTD. Are there Social Security benefits that we are eligible for? As a young-onset form of dementia that typically strikes during the prime earning years, FTD often has a significant impact on a family’s financial situation. The economic…
Read MoreIn-Person Meet & Greet in Midlothian, VA
Join and learn from others who understand the FTD journey at this in-person AFTD Meet & Greet event near Richmond, hosted by AFTD volunteer Carrie Edwards. RSVP for this event by emailing cae.aftd@gmail.com. You can also download this flyer to learn more.
Read MoreFTD Awareness Week Event
AFTD volunteer support group facilitator Al Papesh and the members of the group will be sharing AFTD resources and answering questions at the Johnston Public Library in Johnston, Iowa on Saturday, 9/22/24, from 1:15-4:30 CST.
Read MoreAFTD Ambassador Completes Two-Month Cross-Country Bike Ride for FTD Awareness
AFTD Ambassador Spencer Cline wanted to raise FTD awareness and honor the memory of his father. Lawrence Cline was diagnosed with FTD at age 50 and died in 2012, when Spencer was just 13 years old. Because his father’s FTD was caused by a variant in the C9orf72 gene, which causes FTD and ALS and…
Read MoreKadlec Hospital Neurological Center’s 13th Annual Caregiver Conference
Volunteer Cheryl Garvey will be hosting an information table at Kadlec Hospital Neurological Center’s 13th Annual Caregiver Conference at the Richland Community Center.
Read MoreGuest Feature: Creating Opportunities of Liberation and Hope on the FTD Journey
The FTD journey is difficult for families due to its distressing symptoms and the sweeping life changes that are often required to adapt to them. Families often find that there is little support for those affected by FTD because not enough people know about it. Chris Tann, who is currently living with FTD, and Debra,…
Read MoreU.K. Man Discusses FTD Caregiving with BBC and Yahoo! Life
An FTD caregiver in the United Kingdom spoke about the disease’s emotional and financial impact in recent interviews with the BBC and Yahoo! Life. Gareth Heslop, of Sheffield, UK, said that being a care partner for his long-time partner and fiancée, Sarah Frith, has put a “huge strain on the family.” And like so many…
Read More“50 & Better” Senior Health Fair
Join Robert Meddaugh, a member of AFTD’s Persons with FTD Advisory Council, who will host an information table with AFTD resources you can take with you at the Des Moines University’s annual “50 & Better” Senior Health Fair. The fair combines complimentary health screenings and informational booths with a friendly, social atmosphere.
Read MoreIn Memory of George F. Sidoris: A Siblings’ Labor of Love
More than 20 years ago, siblings Christine and George J. Sidoris first noticed troubling changes in their father’s behavior during a family gathering. “Normally, when my brother and his family visited, my father was gregarious and the life of the party. This time, we noticed he wasn’t socializing,” shared Christine. Their father also started to…
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