Estimating the Inheritance of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration in the Italian Population

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has a strong genetic basis, with familial forms occurring in 30-50% of cases. Causative genes have been identified, with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Notwithstanding, in a number of cases with positive family history no pathogenetic mutation has been reported, and the role of genetics in sporadic cases is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to estimate the genetic contribution to FTD using concordance among parent-offspring pairs. Heritability of early-onset (EO