Leaders
Molecular Neurodegeneration Research Group. From left: Nadine Huber, Dorit Hoffmann, Annakaisa Haapasalo, Elena Ppali, Viivi Pekkala, Tomi Hietanen
Our group studies the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration involved in the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). FTD is the most common cause of dementia in under 60-year-olds. We especially focus on the genetic form of FTD caused by the hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene, because it is exceptionally common in Finnish FTD patients. We are interested in molecular pathogenetic and functional changes in neurons and microglia derived from FTD patients. We also aim to identify novel biomarkers to help differential diagnostics of different forms of FTD. We are active participants of the Finnish FTD Research Network, FinFTD, and we closely collaborate with FTD clinical researchers with the goal of translating our findings for the benefit of the patients. We are also part of the EU JPND and Academy of Finland -funded SynaDeg project (Pre-diagnostic early synaptic disturbances in neurodegenerative diseases), where we act as a partner and coordinator.
Follow us in X: @HaapasaloLab.
News
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We are a partner and coordinator of the JPND SynaDeg projectWe are a partner and coordinator of the JPND SynaDeg project
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Significant support from Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation to research on memory disordersSignificant support from Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation to research on memory disorders
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UEF’s frontotemporal dementia researchers secure prestigious Academy of Finland and EU fundingUEF’s frontotemporal dementia researchers secure prestigious Academy of Finland and EU funding
Projects
Cooperation
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Finnish FTD Research Network (FinFTD) 01.05.2016 - -
AIVI Stem Cell Center -
Bioinformatics Center 01.01.2014 - -
Biomarkers for Neurological Disorders 08.06.2004 - -
Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Early Onset Dementia 01.01.2022 - -
GenomMed Finished 01.04.2018 - 31.12.2022 -
Molecular Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease - Hiltunen Lab 01.01.2022 - -
Neuroinflammation research group 01.01.2017 - -
Neurobiology of Memory 12.11.2022 - -
UEF Neurodegeneration - Myohanen Lab 02.08.2021 -
Keywords
#uefneuroinno
astrocytes
autophagy
C9orf72
dendritic spines
frontotemporal dementia
frontotemporal lobar degeneration
immune system
in vitro models
in vivo models
iPSC
microglia
mitochondria
mitochondrial function
molecular mechanisms
neurocenter Finland
neurodegeneration
neuroinflammation
neuron
pathogenesis
patient cohort
pluripotent stem cell
proteasome
synapse
synaptic dysfunction
UEF Neuroscience Research Community
Leaders
Professors
Post-doctoral Researchers
Doctoral Researchers
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Nadine Huber
Postdoctoral ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences -
Tomi Hietanen
Doctoral ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences -
Elena Ppali
Early Stage ResearcherA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences
Previous group members
Other group members
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Viivi Pekkala
Publications
21 items-
Cortico-spinal tDCS in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial followed by an open-label phase
Benussi, Alberto; Cantoni, Valentina; Grassi, Mario; Libri, Ilenia; Cotelli, Maria Sofia; Tarantino, Barbara; Datta, Abhishek; Thomas, Chris; Huber, Nadine; Kärkkäinen, Sari; Herukka, Sanna-Kaisa; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Filosto, Massimiliano; Padovani, Alessandro; Borroni, Barbara. 2023. Brain stimulation. 16: 1666-1676 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Psychopharmacological Medication Use in Frontotemporal Dementia at the Time of Diagnosis: Comparison with Alzheimer’s Disease
Katisko, Kasper; Krüger, Johanna; Soppela, Helmi; Hartikainen, Päivi; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Remes, Anne M.; Solje, Eino. 2023. Journal of Alzheimer's disease. 95: 677-685 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Traumatic Brain Injury Associates with an Earlier Onset in Sporadic Frontotemporal Dementia
Soppela, Helmi; Krüger, Johanna; Hartikainen, Päivi; Koivisto, Anne; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Borroni, Barbara; Remes, Anne M.; Katisko, Kasper; Solje, Eino. 2023. Journal of Alzheimer's disease. 91: 225-232 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Modifiable potential risk factors in familial and sporadic frontotemporal dementia
Soppela, Helmi; Katisko, Kasper; Gadola, Yasmine; Krüger, Johanna; Hartikainen, Päivi; Alberici Antonella; Benussi, Alberto; Koivisto,Anne; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Remes, Anne M; Borroni, Barbara; Solje, Eino. 2022. Annals of clinical and translational neurology. 9: 1195-1205 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
Bellenguez, Céline; Küçükali, Fahri; Jansen, Iris E.; Kleineidam, Luca; Moreno-Grau, Sonia; Amin, Najaf; Naj, Adam C.; Campos-Martin, Rafael; Grenier-Boley, Benjamin; Andrade, Victor; Holmans, Peter A.; Boland, Anne; Damotte, Vincent; van der Lee, Sven J.; Costa, Marcos R.; Kuulasmaa, Teemu; Yang, Qiong; de Rojas, Itziar; Bis, Joshua C.; Yaqub, Amber; Prokic, Ivana; Chapuis, Julien; Ahmad, Shahzad; Giedraitis, Vilmantas; Aarsland, Dag; Garcia-Gonzalez, Pablo; Abdelnour, Carla; Alarcón-Martín, Em. 2022. Nature genetics. 54: 412-436 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Patient-derived skin fibroblasts as a model to study frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Hoffmann, Dorit. 2022. Neural regeneration research. 17: 2669-2671 B1 Non-refereed journal articles -
Serum total TDP-43 levels are decreased in frontotemporal dementia patients with C9orf72 repeat expansion or concomitant motoneuron disease phenotype
Katisko, Kasper; Huber, Nadine; Kokkola, Tarja; Hartikainen, Päivi; Krüger, Johanna; Heikkinen, Anna-Leena; Paananen, Veera; Leinonen, Ville; Korhonen, Ville E.; Helisalmi, Seppo; Herukka, Sanna-Kaisa; Cantoni, Valentina; Gadola, Yasmine; Archetti, Silvana; Remes, Anne M.; Haapasalo, Annakaisa; Borroni, Barbara; Solje, Eino. 2022. Alzheimer's research and therapy. 14: . 151 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
A Novel Genetic Marker for the C9orf72 Repeat Expansion in the Finnish Population
Rostalski, H; Korhonen, V; Kuulasmaa, T; Solje, E; Krüger, J; Gen, F; Kaivola, K; Eide, PK; Lambert, JC; Julkunen, V; Tienari, PJ; Remes, AM; Leinonen, V; Hiltunen, M; Haapasalo, A. 2021. Journal of Alzheimer's disease. 83: 1325-1332 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion leads to altered neuronal and dendritic spine morphology and synaptic dysfunction
Huber, Nadine; Hoffmann, Dorit; Giniatullina, Raisa; Rostalski, Hannah; Leskelä, Stina; Takalo, Mari; Natunen, Teemu; Solje, Eino; Remes, Anne M.; Giniatullin, Rashid; Hiltunen, Mikko; Haapasalo, Annakaisa. 2021. Neurobiology of disease. 2022; 162: 105584 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Deficient neurotransmitter systems and synaptic function in frontotemporal lobar degeneration-Insights into disease mechanisms and current therapeutic approaches
Huber, Nadine; Korhonen, Sonja; Hoffmann, Dorit; Leskelä, Stina; Rostalski, Hannah; Remes, Anne M.; Honkakoski, Paavo; Solje, Eino; Haapasalo, Annakaisa. 2021. Molecular psychiatry. Published online: 19 November 2021: 1 - 10 A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review