Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Full- versus Sub-Regional Quantification of Amyloid-Beta Load on Mouse Brain Sections
07:28

Full- versus Sub-Regional Quantification of Amyloid-Beta Load on Mouse Brain Sections

Published on: May 19, 2022

4.9K

Amyloid burden in cognitively normal elderly is associated with preferential hippocampal subfield volume loss

Phillip J Hsu1, Haochang Shou2, Tammie Benzinger3

  • 1Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|November 28, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Early Alzheimer's disease shows brain atrophy in specific hippocampal subfields, even before cognitive decline. Amyloid-beta plaque buildup is linked to this early brain shrinkage in normal individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by brain atrophy, particularly in the medial temporal lobe.
  • Widespread amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition in the cerebral cortex precedes significant atrophy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between amyloid deposition and hippocampal subfield volumes in cognitively normal individuals.
  • To determine if Aβ accumulation correlates with atrophy in specific hippocampal subfields before cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed 74 cognitively normal participants using clinical evaluations, amyloid-beta positron emission tomography (Aβ-PET) imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Employed a novel MRI-based technique for detailed hippocampal subfield segmentation.

Main Results:

  • Amyloid-positive participants exhibited significantly smaller volumes in the hippocampal tail, presubiculum, and subiculum compared to amyloid-negative participants.
  • Total hippocampal gray matter volume was also significantly reduced in amyloid-positive individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Amyloid-beta accumulation is associated with preferential atrophy in specific hippocampal subfields in cognitively normal individuals.
  • These volumetric changes in the hippocampus occur early in the Alzheimer's disease process, preceding clinical symptoms.
Keywords:
Amyloid accumulationcognitively normal elderlyhippocampal subfield volumespresubiculumsubiculum

More Related Videos

Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly12:50

Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly

Published on: April 14, 2014

41.1K
Establishment of a Valuable Mimic of Alzheimer's Disease in Rat Animal Model by Intracerebroventricular Injection of Composited Amyloid Beta Protein08:27

Establishment of a Valuable Mimic of Alzheimer's Disease in Rat Animal Model by Intracerebroventricular Injection of Composited Amyloid Beta Protein

Published on: July 29, 2018

12.8K

Related Concept Videos

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...
7
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...
6
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...
2.0K
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...
4
Role of Hippocampus in Memory01:19

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
2.2K