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[Neuropathological aspects of normal and abnormal aging].
1Department of Neurology, Gunma University School of Medicine.
Summary
Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and senile plaques (SP) increase with age in the olfactory bulb. Ubiquitin-positive granules, potentially autophagosomes containing aluminum, appear in aged brains, but are less common in Alzheimer's dementia.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Aging Research
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
Context:
- Senile changes in the central nervous system are common.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, including neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and senile plaques (SP), is typically studied in the cerebral cortex.
- The olfactory bulb's role in aging and neurodegeneration is less understood.
Purpose:
- To investigate the presence and distribution of NFT and SP in the olfactory bulbs of aged cadavers.
- To examine age-related changes in the parahippocampal gyrus, specifically ubiquitin-positive granules.
- To characterize granulovacuolar degeneration and its potential composition.
Summary:
- NFT were observed in the anterior olfactory nucleus starting after age 60, with incidence increasing with age.
- SP were found in the olfactory nucleus when abundant in the cerebral cortex.
- Ubiquitin-positive granules, possibly aluminum-containing autophagosomes, were prevalent in aged parahippocampal gyri but scarce in Alzheimer's type dementia patients.
Impact:
- This study reveals age-dependent accumulation of AD-related pathology in the olfactory bulb.
- It highlights distinct age-related changes in the parahippocampal gyrus, differentiating from Alzheimer's dementia.
- Findings suggest potential roles for olfactory bulb pathology and autophagosomes in the aging brain and neurodegeneration.