Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
08:29
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
Published on: December 18, 2016
Brain pathology in relation to somatic diseases: Exploring the body-brain crosstalk
G Grande1,2, M Valletta1, F Gasparini1
1Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of Internal Medicine
|June 2, 2026
Summary
Common somatic diseases increase dementia risk, primarily through brain damage like neuronal loss and vascular lesions, not Alzheimer's-specific pathology. This highlights the importance of understanding mixed dementia in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Pathology
Background:
- Somatic diseases are linked to dementia risk, but neuropathological links are unclear.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD pathologies are key considerations.
- Age-related conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and anemia are prevalent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence linking somatic conditions to AD and non-AD neuropathology.
- To synthesize findings on brain atrophy, neuroinflammation, and proteinopathies.
- To clarify the neuropathological basis of dementia in somatic disease patients.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of human studies.
- Searched PubMed for postmortem, imaging, and biomarker data.
- Qualitative synthesis and strength grading of evidence.
Main Results:
- Somatic diseases strongly associated with neuronal loss and cerebrovascular lesions.
- Limited and inconsistent evidence links somatic diseases to amyloid and tau pathology.
- Neuroinflammation and non-AD proteinopathies were not systematically studied.
Conclusions:
- Somatic diseases likely drive dementia via non-AD mechanisms, especially cerebrovascular injury and neuronal loss.
- These conditions may not primarily cause Alzheimer's disease pathology.
- Further research on mixed dementia and a holistic view of brain health is needed.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Disorders of the Nervous Tissue
Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
01:22Gut-Brain Axis
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...
01:37Neural Regulation
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
01:23Alzheimer 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...
00:49The Blood-brain Barrier
Overview
01:24Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...