Abstract
The relationship between amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and tau-related neurofibrillary changes is a key issue in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and cortical distribution of Aβ and tau pathology, their mutual links and their correlation with the duration of the disease in thirty-nine patients with fully expressed AD. By tau immunohistochemistry, we identified different patterns of distribution of neurofibrillary changes that were ascribed to Braak stage V and VI. The disease duration was longer in patients at Braak stage VI than in those at V. Morphometric analysis carried out in several neocortical areas demonstrated that Aβ load was not uniform among individuals and also varied in the same patient throughout the neocortex, showing decreased severity from associative fields in the premotor and primary motor areas. Aβ load was higher at Braak stage VI than at stage V and correlated positively with disease duration in primary motor cortex and in superior temporal gyrus. Overall, we documented a marked heterogeneity in the extent of Aβ deposition even in AD brains at final stages of disease that cannot be completely explained by a simple, regular build up of this pathologic protein in the cerebral cortex during the course of the disease. This study may be relevant for the correct evaluation of therapeutic strategies for AD that specifically address Aβ pathology.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 57-68 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Journal of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
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Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- Amyloid-β burden
- Braak staging
- Immunohistochemistry
- Morphometry
- Neurofibrillary tangles
- Senile plaques
- Tau protein
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Clinical Psychology
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Neocortical variation of Aβ load in fully expressed, pure Alzheimer's disease. / Cupidi, Chiara; Capobianco, Raffaella; Goffredo, Donato; Marcon, Gabriella; Ghetti, Bernardino; Bugiani, Orso; Tagliavini, Fabrizio; Giaccone, Giorgio.
In: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2010, p. 57-68.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Neocortical variation of Aβ load in fully expressed, pure Alzheimer's disease
AU - Cupidi, Chiara
AU - Capobianco, Raffaella
AU - Goffredo, Donato
AU - Marcon, Gabriella
AU - Ghetti, Bernardino
AU - Bugiani, Orso
AU - Tagliavini, Fabrizio
AU - Giaccone, Giorgio
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - The relationship between amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and tau-related neurofibrillary changes is a key issue in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and cortical distribution of Aβ and tau pathology, their mutual links and their correlation with the duration of the disease in thirty-nine patients with fully expressed AD. By tau immunohistochemistry, we identified different patterns of distribution of neurofibrillary changes that were ascribed to Braak stage V and VI. The disease duration was longer in patients at Braak stage VI than in those at V. Morphometric analysis carried out in several neocortical areas demonstrated that Aβ load was not uniform among individuals and also varied in the same patient throughout the neocortex, showing decreased severity from associative fields in the premotor and primary motor areas. Aβ load was higher at Braak stage VI than at stage V and correlated positively with disease duration in primary motor cortex and in superior temporal gyrus. Overall, we documented a marked heterogeneity in the extent of Aβ deposition even in AD brains at final stages of disease that cannot be completely explained by a simple, regular build up of this pathologic protein in the cerebral cortex during the course of the disease. This study may be relevant for the correct evaluation of therapeutic strategies for AD that specifically address Aβ pathology.
AB - The relationship between amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and tau-related neurofibrillary changes is a key issue in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and cortical distribution of Aβ and tau pathology, their mutual links and their correlation with the duration of the disease in thirty-nine patients with fully expressed AD. By tau immunohistochemistry, we identified different patterns of distribution of neurofibrillary changes that were ascribed to Braak stage V and VI. The disease duration was longer in patients at Braak stage VI than in those at V. Morphometric analysis carried out in several neocortical areas demonstrated that Aβ load was not uniform among individuals and also varied in the same patient throughout the neocortex, showing decreased severity from associative fields in the premotor and primary motor areas. Aβ load was higher at Braak stage VI than at stage V and correlated positively with disease duration in primary motor cortex and in superior temporal gyrus. Overall, we documented a marked heterogeneity in the extent of Aβ deposition even in AD brains at final stages of disease that cannot be completely explained by a simple, regular build up of this pathologic protein in the cerebral cortex during the course of the disease. This study may be relevant for the correct evaluation of therapeutic strategies for AD that specifically address Aβ pathology.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Amyloid-β burden
KW - Braak staging
KW - Immunohistochemistry
KW - Morphometry
KW - Neurofibrillary tangles
KW - Senile plaques
KW - Tau protein
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=75149181071&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=75149181071&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/JAD-2010-1205
DO - 10.3233/JAD-2010-1205
M3 - Article
C2 - 20061626
AN - SCOPUS:75149181071
VL - 19
SP - 57
EP - 68
JO - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
JF - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
SN - 1387-2877
IS - 1
ER -