Cause 6: The Lurking Enemy: Chronic Inflammation and FTD
When we think of inflammation, we often imagine the body’s natural response to injury or infection. But inflammation can also be a silent, relentless enemy, especially when it becomes chronic in the brain. Chronic inflammation has been implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders, including FTD.
The brain’s immune cells, called microglia, are usually the first to respond when something goes awry. They release pro-inflammatory substances to combat threats, aiming to restore balance. But sometimes, these defenders become overzealous, causing more harm than good.
Under certain circumstances, microglia can trigger an ongoing inflammatory response. This chronic inflammation creates a hostile environment for neurons, potentially leading to their death. As neurons die, symptoms of FTD can emerge, eroding an individual’s cognitive and emotional capacities.
Scientists are striving to understand what tips the scales toward chronic inflammation in some individuals. Genetic factors may be at play, but lifestyle and environmental influences can’t be ruled out. The interplay is complex, yet unraveling it may yield new therapeutic targets.
Controlling chronic inflammation could be one route to mitigating FTD’s impact. Emerging strategies focus on calming the overactive immune response or bolstering the brain’s resilience against inflammation. These approaches offer hope for a future where FTD can be effectively managed, if not entirely prevented. (6)
