Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
08:29
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
Published on: December 18, 2016
14.7K
Impact of multiple pathologies on the threshold for clinically overt dementia
Alifiya Kapasi1,2, Charles DeCarli3, Julie A Schneider4,5,6
1Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA.
Acta Neuropathologica
|May 11, 2017
Summary
Mixed brain pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD), are key drivers of dementia. Understanding these combined pathologies is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pathology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Mixed pathologies, the coexistence of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases, are increasingly recognized in dementia.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology often occurs with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) pathologies like infarcts and amyloid angiopathy, and other neurodegenerative pathologies such as Lewy bodies.
- These co-occurring pathologies can lower the threshold for clinical AD diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a clinical-pathological perspective on the role of multiple brain pathologies in dementia.
- To review available clinical and biomarker data on mixed pathologies contributing to dementia.
Main Methods:
- Review of longitudinal clinical-pathological studies.
- Integration of findings from neuroimaging technologies confirming pathological observations.
- Analysis of in vivo biomarker studies to understand specific pathological contributions.
Main Results:
- Mixed pathologies significantly influence the development and clinical presentation of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
- Neuroimaging and biomarker studies increasingly support pathological findings regarding the impact of co-occurring brain diseases.
- The combination of pathologies affects the diagnostic threshold for Alzheimer's disease.
Conclusions:
- Multiple pathologies are critical factors in the spectrum of dementia.
- Further in vivo biomarker studies are essential to elucidate the time course and interplay of accumulating pathologies.
- A comprehensive understanding of mixed pathologies is vital for advancing dementia diagnosis and care.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
1.9K
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...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
1.9K
01:30Dementia
614
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....
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
614
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
2.2K
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is...
2.2K
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
2.3K
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
2.3K
01:22Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
1.1K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
1.1K
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
285
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
285