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Visualization of Amyloid β Deposits in the Human Brain with Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Imaging Mass Spectrometry
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Cerebral microhemorrhage and brain β-amyloid in aging and Alzheimer disease

P A Yates1, R Sirisriro, V L Villemagne

  • 1Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia. paul.yates@austin.org.au

Neurology
|June 25, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Asymptomatic beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in older adults is linked to lobar cerebral microhemorrhages (LMH). This finding suggests Aβ may play a role in microhemorrhage development even before cognitive decline.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neuropathology
  • Geriatric Medicine

Background:

  • Cerebral microhemorrhages (MH) are common in older adults, often detected via MRI.
  • MH have been associated with beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between Aβ deposition and lobar MH (LMH) in asymptomatic elderly individuals.
  • To determine if Aβ deposition predicts LMH in healthy older adults.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving healthy controls (HC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and probable AD subjects.
  • Utilized 3-Tesla susceptibility-weighted MRI (SWI) for MH detection and (11)C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET for Aβ deposition quantification.
  • MH were manually counted and categorized; Aβ cortical binding was quantified as standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR).

Main Results:

  • Lobar MH (LMH) prevalence was observed across all groups, including HC.
  • PiB-positive (PiB+) subjects showed similar LMH prevalence regardless of clinical status.
  • In HC, LMH presence correlated positively with neocortical Aβ deposition (SUVR) and age.
  • PiB+ status and age independently predicted LMH occurrence in HC.

Conclusions:

  • Asymptomatic Aβ deposition in older adults is strongly associated with LMH.
  • This suggests a potential role for Aβ in the development of microhemorrhages, even in the absence of clinical symptoms.

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