Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
09:17

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia

Published on: November 6, 2017

22.1K

Comorbidity of Cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's Disease in Aging

Ying Xia1, Nawaf Yassi2,3,4, Parnesh Raniga1

  • 1The Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|September 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease often co-occur, particularly with advancing age. This study found no direct cross-sectional link between amyloid-β (Aβ) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in AD, suggesting age is a primary driver of comorbidity.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Gerontology
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD) frequently coexist, sharing risk factors.
  • The precise interrelationship between these conditions remains incompletely understood.
  • Clarifying interactions is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies and early diagnostic biomarkers for AD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of comorbid amyloid-β (Aβ) and cerebrovascular disease.
  • To examine the cross-sectional association between Aβ deposition and cerebrovascular disease markers.
  • To analyze these relationships within the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study of Ageing cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized positron emission tomography and structural magnetic resonance imaging in 598 participants.
  • Assessed Aβ deposition and cerebrovascular disease markers, including white matter hyperintensities (WMH).
  • Categorized participants into four groups based on Aβ and cerebrovascular disease comorbidity status (Aβ-V-, Aβ-V+, Aβ+V-, Aβ+V+).

Main Results:

  • Advancing age correlated with increased likelihood of cerebrovascular disease, high Aβ load, and their comorbidity.
  • Apolipoprotein E ɛ4 carriage was linked solely to Aβ positivity.
  • While AD participants showed greater WMH burden, no direct cross-sectional association was found between Aβ and WMH measures, indicating age as a likely common driver.

Conclusions:

  • Aβ and cerebrovascular disease commonly coexist in older adults.
  • The study did not establish a convincing cross-sectional association between Aβ and WMH burden.
  • Longitudinal studies are recommended to further elucidate the relationship between Aβ and cerebrovascular changes over time.
Abstract

Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseamyloidcerebrovascular diseasewhite matter hyperintensities

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

40.7K
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

14.4K

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...
1.4K
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

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...
111
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment01:22

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

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...
634
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
129
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....
410
Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
606