Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains
12:28

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

Clinical and imaging characteristics of dementia in multiple system atrophy

Han-Joon Kim1, Beom S Jeon, Young Eun Kim

  • 1Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, and Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
|March 27, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Dementia affects 15% of multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients. Structural brain changes, not amyloid plaques, are linked to cognitive decline in MSA dementia, suggesting a complex pathology.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Dementia is a known complication in multiple system atrophy (MSA), affecting 5-26% of patients.
  • The underlying structural and pathological causes of dementia in MSA remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neuroanatomical and pathological correlates of dementia in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA).
  • To compare brain structure and amyloid burden between MSA patients with and without dementia, and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • 152 probable MSA patients were assessed; 9 (15%) had dementia (MSA-D).
  • Included 6 MSA-D patients, 9 MSA without dementia, and 10 controls.
  • Utilized clinical evaluations (UMSARS), neuropsychological tests, 3T-MRI, and Pittsburgh Compound B (PIB) PET imaging.
  • Assessed cortical thickness using surface-based morphometry.

Main Results:

  • MSA-D patients showed more severe motor disability than MSA without dementia.
  • Cognitive deficits in MSA-D included attention, visuospatial, and language impairments.
  • Cortical thinning was observed in MSA-D in regions like precuneus/cuneus and parahippocampal cortex.
  • Amyloid (PIB) binding was similar across groups, suggesting a limited role in MSA dementia.

Conclusions:

  • Dementia prevalence in probable MSA is approximately 15%.
  • Amyloid pathology appears to play a minor role in MSA dementia.
  • Observed cortical thinning in MSA-D overlaps with regions affected in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease dementia.
  • The neuropathogenesis of dementia in MSA is likely multifactorial and heterogeneous.

More Related Videos

Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on 18F-AV-145105:17

Hybrid PET/MRI Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease Based on 18F-AV-1451

Published on: April 18, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Dementia l: Introduction01:22

Dementia l: Introduction

Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction01:29

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction01:19

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
Dementia01:30

Dementia

Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.