Kimberly Williams Paisley (starred in Father of the Bride) announced she is participating in a research study for Alzheimer’s.

Ms. William’s is now participating in a research study looking for any relationship between heart health and Alzheimer’s.  That is great news!  We all need to help in this.  Ms. Paisley’s late mom had a form of Frontotemporal Dementia called Primary Progressive Aphasia.  

The Bratton family is also doing what we can to help with research for Alzheimer’s and Dementia.  Several of us have gone through various cognitive work ups, MRI’s, and provided saliva and blood samples. 

In the Bratton family, we had no history of dementia or Alzheimer’s until my brother and sister were diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia FTD behavioral variant.  And many years later, Mom would pass away due to Alzheimer’s.  

It is critical that survivors make themselves available for research to help speed this work up.  You can choose not to see the results and in many cases, that is the best way to go, it is a very personal decision.  Some trials record your information and will follow you through the years, while others may be stored without identifying you.  

I have been studying this disease for over a decade and not until recently have I been so hopeful for diagnosis.  It is amazing the strides in research that have been made over the past 8 months. 

A couple of members of my family have participated in a research study that is looking for any relationship between oral hygiene and Alzheimer’s.  Some of us have also provided DNA samples to help identify a gene specific to FTD.  

The most exciting work I have seen of late, is the uplift-D Study, sponsored by passage Bio Inc.  This study is investigating the safety and tolerability of a gene therapy (PBFT02) for persons with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) who have a mutation in the progranulin gene (GRN).

Gene therapy aims to replace the gene that is not working properly with a version of the gene that works normally. Participants will receive one dose of PBFT02. Additional assessments include blood tests, medical exams, questionnaires, brain imaging, and lumbar punctures.

There is a two-year main commitment with an optional three-year safety extension for a total of 16 visits over five years. Eligible participants will have been diagnosed with FTD-GRN, are between 35 and 75 years old, experience FTD symptoms, have a reliable study partner, and live in the community. Travel reimbursement is available. For more information, visit the study listing on ClinicalTrials.gov. 

In Houston, the UTHealth Neurocognitive Disorders Center, led by Dr. Paul E. Schulz, is actively screening and recruiting any interested family members who meet the aforementioned criteria. Living in Houston, or even Texas, is not required as the sponsor is reimbursing travel and lodging. If you have any questions, the contact info is below: 

Omar Hasan, Research Coordinator – Schulz Lab

UTHealth Neurocognitive Disorders Center

713 486 2647 

This is a great group of medical professionals.  I have been working with them for over 10 years.  Dr. Paul Schulz is a clinician and researcher…not many of them out there.  To have a brilliant researcher still meeting with patients is an incredible blessing.  It just isn’t that financially rewarding for doctors to do both, they do it because their heart is in it! 

IMAGINE replacing the diseased progranulin in our brain with a healthy replacement!  My hope for this research is that it is successful so other families don’t have to experience the level of sadness and tragedy that our family and others have endured due to Frontotemporal Dementia.  It is time to make a difference!