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The role of myelin damage in Alzheimer's disease pathology

Ewa Papuć1, Konrad Rejdak1,2

  • 1Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.

Archives of Medical Science : AMS
|March 20, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Myelin damage, overlooked for decades in Alzheimer's disease (AD), is now recognized as crucial. This review explores myelin's role and interaction with amyloid-beta and tau pathologies in AD.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuropathology
  • Demyelinating Diseases

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) has historically been viewed as a grey matter disorder.
  • Alois Alzheimer's early 1911 observation of myelin disruption in AD was largely ignored.
  • Emerging evidence highlights the significant role of myelin impairment in AD pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the current understanding of myelin's role in Alzheimer's disease.
  • To examine the interactions between myelin pathology and hallmark AD pathologies (Aβ and tau).
  • To discuss whether myelin damage is a primary or secondary event in AD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on myelin pathology in Alzheimer's disease.
  • Analysis of the relationship between myelin damage and Aβ/tau accumulation.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding the temporal sequence of pathological events in AD.

Main Results:

  • Oligodendrocyte death and myelin damage can be induced by classical AD neuropathological changes (Aβ plaques, neurofibrillary tangles).
  • Myelin pathology may precede the development of Aβ and tau pathologies in some cases of AD.
  • The precise causal relationship (primary vs. secondary injury) of myelin damage in AD remains undetermined.

Conclusions:

  • Myelin disruption is an important, though historically underappreciated, feature of Alzheimer's disease pathology.
  • Understanding myelin's role is critical for a comprehensive view of AD pathogenesis.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the exact timing and contribution of myelin damage in AD progression.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseasemyelin impairmentoligodendrogliawhite matter damage

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