Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Dissection of Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus from Adult Mouse
07:42

Dissection of Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus from Adult Mouse

Published on: November 17, 2009

A new definition of Alzheimer's disease: a hippocampal dementia

M J Ball, M Fisman, V Hachinski

    Lancet (London, England)
    |January 5, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    Alzheimer's disease cognitive decline is linked to hippocampal damage. Nerve cell loss and gliosis in the hippocampi are key neuropathological findings in Alzheimer's disease patients.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Neuropathology
    • Cognitive Science

    Background:

    • Alzheimer's disease involves decline in higher cognitive functions.
    • The hippocampal formation is critical for memory processing and cognitive physiology.
    • Previous literature highlights the hippocampus as a 'locus minoris resistentiae'.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the link between hippocampal histopathological changes and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
    • To examine quantitative morphometric, histological, and neurochemical data from Alzheimer's disease patients.

    Main Methods:

    • Longitudinal study with prospective patient testing.
    • Quantitative morphometric evaluations of the hippocampal formation.
    • Histological and neurochemical analysis of brain tissue.

    Main Results:

    • Preliminary data support the hypothesis linking cognitive decline to hippocampal changes.
    • Nerve cell loss and gliosis were the primary neuropathological abnormalities found in hippocampi.
    • These changes occurred with or without neocortical neuronal lesions.

    Conclusions:

    • Histopathological changes in the hippocampal formation are strongly implicated in Alzheimer's disease cognitive decline.
    • Devastating nerve cell loss and gliosis in the hippocampi are key findings.
    • The hippocampus plays a central role in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease.

    More Related Videos

    Stereotaxic Infusion of Oligomeric Amyloid-beta into the Mouse Hippocampus08:16

    Stereotaxic Infusion of Oligomeric Amyloid-beta into the Mouse Hippocampus

    Published on: June 17, 2015

    Motor and Hippocampal Dependent Spatial Learning and Reference Memory Assessment in a Transgenic Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease with Stroke09:45

    Motor and Hippocampal Dependent Spatial Learning and Reference Memory Assessment in a Transgenic Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease with Stroke

    Published on: March 22, 2016

    Related Concept Videos

    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...
    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...
    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.
    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...
    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...