LyondellBasell 2024

At LyondellBasell, we believe in creating solutions for healthier, sustainable and equitable communities – now and for generations to come. Through our global corporate citizenship program, Advancing Good, we invest in charitable organizations supporting three key focus areas: Advancing Our Communities, Advancing Our Planet, Advancing Tomorrow's Workforce.

This year we once again support the Erasmus MC Foundation, specifically: research into FTD of Dr. Harro Seelaar.

What is FTD?
After Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the form of dementia that most often occurs in people under the age of 65.

In FTD, behavior, personality and language mostly change, while memory symptoms are virtually nonexistent. This is because the front part of the brain (the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain) is damaged. These parts are responsible for our behavior, how we make decisions, our emotional response and language skills.

FTD can be hereditary. Of all patients with FTD, 20% to 30% have an inherited form. Does someone have hereditary FTD? If so, there is a 50% chance he or she will pass the gene on to his or her children.

In early 2023, actor Bruce Willis was also diagnosed with FTD at the age of 67. By going public with the diagnosis, his family wants to draw more attention to the disease.

Early diagnosis still difficult now
FTD often affects young people. Most patients are between the ages of 40 and 60. The young age means that dementia is not initially thought of. In fact, it is often thought that someone is overworked, has burnout or has psychiatric symptoms. It is important to make the correct diagnosis early so that doctors can properly guide these patients and loved ones and provide the right specific care. The Alzheimer Center Erasmus MC has a specially recognized European Center of Expertise for FTD. This is the only recognized center in the Netherlands.

Research into FTD
To better treat patients with FTD, doctors at the Alzheimer Center Erasmus MC want to conduct research to improve diagnosis and guidance for patients with both hereditary and non-hereditary FTD. The doctors are focusing this research on patients with hereditary FTD so that the patients can be followed during the period when they are not yet ill. From this, the doctors can learn a lot about how the disease develops, including for patients with non-hereditary FTD. In this way, doctors can make the right diagnosis in time and better guide patients during their illness. With the ultimate goal of working toward a treatment to stop and prevent the disease.