The AFTD

The former talk show host Wendy Williams was diagnosed with FTD last year, her care team announced in a Feb. 22 statement. “In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD),” her care team said in the statement. Click here to learn more: bit.ly/3T7EpYf

On March 12, nearly 500 members of the FTD community gathered for AFTD’s 10th annual Hope Rising Benefit, raising $2.1 million to support awareness, care, and research. The evening honored Emma Heming Willis and Bruce Willis with the Susan Newhouse & Si Newhouse Award of Hope. Emma also announced the launch of the Emma & Bruce Willis Fund for Dementia Research and Caregiver Support, with AFTD receiving its first gift. 🔴 Learn more: bit.ly/4sLanbQ

Frontotemporal degeneration is often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. AFTD developed diagnostic checklists for bvFTD, PPA, FTD-ALS, and PSP to help identify red flags and support evaluation. 📋 Download the checklists: bit.ly/4bopil3

After losing his father and brother to FTD and seeing the disease affect other members of his family, Mike Brucklier has turned to marathon running as a way to support research and raise awareness. Since 2023, he has run two marathons for AFTD and, with support from his workplace and community, has raised about $41,000 for AFTD’s mission. 👟 Read now: bit.ly/4ur05iI

🎨 FTD in the Arts is returning to the AFTD 2026 Education Conference. We invite people diagnosed, care partners, caregivers, and families to share their creativity and perspective through art. Paintings, photography, poetry, music, textiles, and more are welcome. Take a look at some of last year’s entries, and feel free to submit your own by March 26: bit.ly/4sGp9An

FTD Disorders Registry Director Carrie Milliard represented the Registry at last night's annual #HopeRising Benefit, which supports the @AFTDHope mission and paves the path forward to greater awareness, effective care, and research into urgently needed treatments for FTD.

At the 2026 Holloway Summit, AFTD convened academic researchers, clinicians, nonprofit leaders, people with lived experience, and industry partners to tackle one of the biggest challenges in FTD: diagnosis. With delays averaging 4.7 years from symptom onset to diagnosis, experts explored new tools, including biomarkers, advanced imaging, and AI, to improve diagnostic accuracy and speed. 🔴 Learn more: bit.ly/3N3b694

This past weekend, AFTD Ambassador Julie Pierrat and other local families took on the Los Angeles Marathon and raised more than $10,000 in support of AFTD’s mission. 👟❤️ Every mile ran is inspiring progress in awareness, research, and support for individuals and families facing frontotemporal degeneration. Thank you to all the runners!

The AFTD Education Conference offers trusted education, meaningful connections, and practical support for people impacted by FTD. Because of donor support, this conference is free and accessible — allowing people to participate in person or virtually, wherever they are in their FTD journey. ❤️ Support the 2026 Education Conference today: bit.ly/4aB8x6X

Jesús García-Castro, MD was awarded the 2026 Next Generation Research Grant in #FrontotemporalDementia. Institution: @IRSantPau This research is co-funded with @AFTDHope. More ➡️ ow.ly/QCQq50Yru3q #FTDResearch

Today, on International Women’s Day, we recognize women living with FTD who are helping strengthen the FTD community. Members of AFTD’s Persons with FTD Advisory Council share their lived experience to advance awareness, guide programs, and support others navigating FTD. We’re grateful for their leadership and advocacy. ❤️ Learn more about these remarkable advocates: bit.ly/4aT183g

Meet the Researcher: Adam Staffaroni 🔬 Dr. Staffaroni’s work is helping reshape how researchers measure and understand FTD. From pioneering digital assessments that enable remote participation in research to advancing models that track disease progression, his work is helping move the field forward. We’re grateful for his continued collaboration with AFTD. Read more: bit.ly/4rddAzC

Growing up with a parent who has dementia is rarely talked about. Trailer is out now. Full episode with Spencer Cline drops March 11. #Dementia #FTD #Caregiving #TheDementiaCollective @AFTDHope

A review published in JAMA Psychiatry analyzes prior research on the use of #NfL to differentiate #bvFTD from psychiatric disorders. NfL has demonstrated significant potential as a biomarker for clarifying or supporting dementia diagnoses. Learn more: bit.ly/4sfEqrG

At AFTD’s 2026 Education Conference, we’re honored to feature keynote speaker Susan Dickinson, AFTD’s CEO, alongside leading researchers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and individuals with lived experience. Join us April 30–May 1 in Seattle or online to explore the latest advances in FTD research, and connect with a community that understands. 🔴 Register now: bit.ly/46Z0uyF

In a new animated video created with ALLFTD, AFTD explains how collecting cerebrospinal fluid helps researchers better understand frontotemporal degeneration — from identifying biomarkers like tau and TDP-43 to advancing diagnostic tools and potential treatments. Watch the video to learn what families can expect and why participation in research is so important. 🧠🔬

Two requests for proposals are now OPEN from AFTD and @TheADDF! 🔴 Treat FTD Fund - LOI due March 30 🔴 Accelerating Drug Discovery for FTD - LOI due May 11 Learn more and apply today: bit.ly/4rplnux

How are biomarkers helping diagnose FTD sooner and more accurately? Find out in AFTD’s next webinar on March 10 at 10 am ET featuring Dr. Charlotte Teunissen and the @EndFTDregistry. 🔴 Sponsored by @AviadoBio 👉 Register now: bit.ly/45RGKg5

📓 Class is in session: FTD 101. For Rare Disease Day, we’re flipping the page back to the basics of frontotemporal degeneration. FTD doesn’t always look the way people expect. It can change personality, language, or movement. It’s often mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease, depression, Parkinson’s disease, or a psychiatric condition. Learn more: bit.ly/4cHrczs

These voices come from people who understand the FTD journey firsthand. Since 2010, AFTD’s Education Conference has been a trusted space for education and connection — and it remains free for all attendees because of donor support. ❤️ Help us keep the 2026 Education Conference accessible to all. Give today: bit.ly/4aB8x6X

Progress in neurodegenerative disease research is revealing something powerful: these conditions are more connected than we once thought. Shared genetics. Overlapping biology. Intersecting symptoms. That's why AFTD convened with @youralsnetwork, @iamalsorg, @CurePSP, and @LBDAssoc to explore how coalition-based advocacy strengthens our collective voice and advances meaningful policy solutions. 🎥 Watch the webinar now: bit.ly/4kNV5QC