We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Progranulin Levels in Blood Indicate Frontotemporal Dementia Risk

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 12 Mar 2009
The amount of the growth factor progranulin in the blood is a predictor of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).

Progranulin plays a major role in the survival of brain cells. More...
People who produce less progranulin have a higher risk of contracting FTD. Scientists have developed a test for measuring the amount of progranulin in the blood and thus predicting a person's risk. The blood test can be used on a large scale and is much simpler and user-friendly than current genetic tests.

The scientists also found that progranulin plays a role in the death of brain cells in other diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The test was developed by scientists connected to the Born-Bunge Institute (BBI; Antwerp, Belgium), an institute affiliated with the University of Antwerp. BBI's laboratories are focused on the study of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementias, Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease, epilepsy, peripheral neuropathies, and muscular disorders.

Frontal lobe dementia (Frontotemporal Dementia, FTD) strikes people at an early age. After Alzheimer's disease, FTD is the form of dementia that occurs most frequently in patients younger than 65. In FTD, the disease process starts in the frontal lobe where large numbers of brain cells begin to die off. The frontal lobe is involved in regulating behavior, movement, and mood, and it is responsible for cognitive functions such as language. The first clinical signs of FTD are changes in behavior and personality, and in a later stage of the disease, the loss of memory functions.

It is still too early for medicine to combat FTD. Further scientific research is needed to determine how a shortage of progranulin can be restored to normal.

Related Links:

Born-Bunge Institute



New
Gold Member
Immunochromatographic Assay
CRYPTO Cassette
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
Alcohol Testing Device
Dräger Alcotest 7000
New
Sperm Quality Analyis Kit
QwikCheck Beads Precision and Linearity Kit
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: The microfluidic device for passive separation of platelet-rich plasma from whole blood (Photo courtesy of University of the Basque Country)

Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The 3D paper-based analytical device has shown high clinical accuracy for adult-onset immunodeficiency (Photo courtesy of National Taiwan University)

Paper-Based Device Accurately Detects Immune Defects in 10 Minutes

Patients with hidden immune defects are especially vulnerable to severe and persistent infections, often due to autoantibodies that block interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a key molecule in immune defense.... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The groundbreaking salmonella antimicrobial resistance prediction platform has demonstrated 95% accuracy (Photo courtesy of Yujie You et al., DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.01.013)

New Platform Leverages AI and Quantum Computing to Predict Salmonella Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella strains are a growing public health concern due to the overuse of antimicrobials and the rise of genetic mutations. Accurate prediction of resistance is crucial for effective... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel method to analyze tumor growth rates (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Novel Method To Analyze Tumor Growth Rates Helps Tracks Progression Between Diagnosis and Surgery

Patients diagnosed with breast cancer often worry about how quickly their tumors grow while they wait for surgery, and whether delays in treatment might allow the disease to spread beyond the point of cure.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The Check4 gene-detection platform (Photo courtesy of IdentifySensors)

Electronic Biosensors Used to Detect Pathogens Can Rapidly Detect Cancer Cells

A major challenge in healthcare is the early and affordable detection of serious diseases such as cancer. Early diagnosis remains difficult due to the complexity of identifying specific genetic markers... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.