Impaired LTP‐like cortical plasticity in presymptomatic genetic FTD

Neurophysiological biomarkers were assessed using a TMS multi-paradigm approach in thirteen presymptomatic (n=13 Granulin) and fourteen symptomatic (n=11 Granulin, n=3 C9orf72) subjects with a pathogenic mutation for Frontotemporal Dementia. Intra-cortical facilitation and LTP-like plasticity were impaired in presymptomatic carriers compared to healthy controls more than 15 years before expected symptom onset. In symptomatic carriers, a decrease in short-interval intracortical inhibition compared to presymptomatic carriers was found. In conclusion, these biomarkers could provide the footprints of specific physiopathological processes in the development of this disease and possibly support the diagnosis of autosomal dominant Frontotemporal dementia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.