Newsletters

We appreciate the opportunity to connect with you through our first newsletter of 2025. This issue is focused on Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), an atypical form of Alzheimer’s Disease, that we treat in the MGH FTD Unit.  We’re featuring an overview of PCA and an interview with Dr. Deepti Putcha, the director of the MGH PCA.  We’ve also collected resources that may be helpful to those living with PCA. 

November is National Family Caregiver Month and we at the MGH FTD Unit recognize everything that family caregivers do. Not only do we care for the person diagnosed with FTD, we care for the caregiver through our Caregiver Support Services Program, staffed by Katie Brandt and Amy Almeida. As those of you who attended our A Night with the Arts for FTD gala last month know, we also conduct research … 

As August winds down, I’ve been reflecting on what the summer has brought and what I’m looking forward to this fall. Shortly after the summer solstice, I was privileged to perform as part of the Wall of Grass fundraiser honoring Stu Kimball, Bob Dylan’s longtime tour guitarist and MGH FTD Unit research participant. Despite living with young–onset Alzheimer’s disease, Stu makes the most of every day … 

We are excited about the opportunity to connect with you to share news and updates from our clinical research program. The month of June brings with it the summer solstice, a day with more hours of sunshine than any other day of the year. The Alzheimer’s Association recognizes this moment of extended light as a catalyst for their campaign, The Longest Day … 

We appreciate the opportunity to connect with you through our first newsletter of 2024. This issue comes out before international Rare Disease Day, which will be celebrated globally on February 29th, the rarest day of the year. This is a special day in our community because many of the patients we care for are living with a rare condition. 

We appreciate the opportunity to connect with you through our last newsletter of 2023. As we approach the New Year, we look back on 2023 with wonder and gratitude. The MGH FTD Unit benefited from Ski with David for PSP, the inaugural ski race and celebration hosted by the Crowley family at Wachusett Mountain in February to raise awareness, funds and hope for a cure for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

We welcome the opportunity to connect with you through our newsletter as we turn the corner from winter to spring. This issue comes out on Rare Disease Day, an international day of recognition for individuals living with rare conditions, including the conditions that we care for, and the clinical care and research efforts focused on discovering effective treatments and cures as well as providing high-quality care…

We appreciate the opportunity to connect with you through our first newsletter of 2022. The title of our newsletter, From Care to Cure, reflects our dedication to providing the highest quality of care while working tirelessly for a cure for Frontotemporal Dementia, Primary Progressive Aphasia, Posterior Cortical Atrophy, young-onset and atypical Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders…

As we say goodbye to summer and welcome the change that fall brings, it is a time to reflect on the continued endurance of our community. Many of our patients and their care partners have shared with us that the ongoing pandemic continues to impact the way they live their lives. Attending online support groups, wearing a mask for in-person medical appointments, and assessing safety before attending group events have become the new normal…

Amidst the ongoing pandemic, we continue to provide clinical care, pursue new research, offer a variety of caregiver support activities and identify advocacy opportunities. We couldn’t be happier that the lifting of restrictions is increasing access to adult day health programs and in-home services, visits with loved ones in memory care and the resumption of in-person research visits for brain scans and other procedures…

Every week that goes by, as our team meets with patients and families affected by FTD, PPA, atypical AD, PCA, and related conditions, we feel that we become more resolute in our determination to do our best to help people and develop meaningful treatments and support interventions no matter what. Reflecting back on nearly the past year, we have seen more global devastation than most of us ever thought we would see in our entire lifetime from this pandemic and its many repercussions…

The pandemic has made it so vividly clear how important community resources are for the care and support of our patients and families and others like them around the world who are living with cognitive impairment and dementia. And some facets of scientific progress toward cures have ground to a halt, especially including clinical therapeutic trials and other studies that require in-person examinations, procedures, scans, and other activities deemed to be high risk at present…

We appreciate this opportunity to share our latest news with you. As most of you know, we are dedicated to advancing our knowledge about and ability to care for people and their families living with Frontotemporal Dementia, Primary Progressive Aphasia, Posterior Cortical Atrophy, young-onset, and atypical Alzheimer’s disease, and related disorders…

It is an exciting time in the MGH Frontotemporal Disorders Unit with many special events planned for 2019. Community events are an important pillar of our mission to provide the highest quality of care while working tirelessly towards a cure for these devastating diseases. We are proud to offer events that have the power to promote resilience for our entire FTD Community…

Welcome to this issue of our newsletter, and thank you for your interest. I am delighted to showcase the work of our tremendously talented team and others who are making great progress in understanding Frontotemporal Dementia, Primary Progressive Aphasia, and other early-onset and atypical forms of cognitive impairment. As always, it is a pleasure to share updates from a variety of perspectives with you…

It’s hard to believe that it’s been seven years since we started the MGH FTD Unit. In this first issue of our newsletter, I’d like to extend a warm welcome from myself and our growing team. The mission of the MGH FTD Unit is “to improve understanding of FTD, PPA, and related disorders with the goals of finding a cure and providing better comprehensive care of patients and families.”…