A pro-inflammatory serum profile has been associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FLTD) in new research, increasing the likelihood that blood-based biomarkers can be used for assessment of neuroinflammation in people with dementia. The researchers analysed cytokines in the serum of 214 people with syndromes associated with FTLD and 29 healthy individuals. Their analysis identified a profile of pro-inflammatory cytokines that was associated with FLTD. Stronger expression of this serum profile was associated with greater central neuroinflammation, as indicated by evidence of microglial activation on PET imaging, and with shorter survival.