FTD FilmFestival: BreinSussen

Sword of Damocles

BreinSussen provides insight into lives where the 'sword of Damocles' hangs over the head. Because what do you do if you possibly have a 50% risk of being a carrier of a form of dementia that can affect people at a relatively young age and where someone can completely change his/her personality?

Sisters Marijke and Janneke are approaching the age at which FTD can manifest itself. Can these women live with the uncertainty and threat of possibly becoming ill or do they want clarity? Will the sisters succeed in calming the brain?

Sisters Marijke (1979) and Janneke (1982), working mothers with young children, are in the prime of their lives. Marijke works as a psychologist in psychiatry and Janneke runs her own institute for student guidance. In 2019, their eccentric mother dies, she is 67 years old. After an autopsy, it is clear with certainty that she suffered from FTD, where the abnormalities in the brain can clearly indicate a genetic background of the condition. FTD is a brain disease that usually manifests itself between the ages of 45 and 65. The hereditary burden for ALS is also located on the same gene.

If there is a genetic background, Marijke and Janneke run a 50% risk of getting the same disease. Whether or not to have an investigation, dealing with the uncertainty, or wanting to know where they stand. Marijke and Janneke are initially clear: they are starting an intensive process with a possible sad outcome for (neither) of them or one of them. During the process, one of the sisters wonders whether she still wants to know whether she is genetically predisposed and can therefore develop dementia at a young age. But can you live with the threat of a gray cloud?

About the FTD Film Festival

The 14th International Congress on Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) will take place in Amsterdam in mid-September: ISFTD . The focus is on the brain disease FTD, after Alzheimer's the most common disease that causes dementia.

This disease mainly affects relatively young people, between the ages of 40 and 70. Bruce Willis was also affected by FTD, and he put the disease on the map for the general public.

The FTD FilmFestival offers a selection of films and documentaries about FTD. These are films for and by patients, family and their caregivers. With introductions and discussions by medical experts, caregivers and those involved.

The FTD FilmFestival is organized by Alzeimercentrum Amsterdam and three cinemas: Rialto , Cinema Amstelveen and FC Hyena . The FTD FilmFestival is supported by Amsterdam Convention Bureau of amsterdam&partners.