[Neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease: recent experimental aspects]

This review summarizes some recent aspects of the research development in the field of Alzheimer's disease. In particular, the presentation of a cohesive view of the molecular, cellular and anatomical aspects of Alzheimer's disease is attempted. Thus, the distribution of the classical lesions of Alzheimer's disease and the degree of neuronal specialization at the morphologic, connectivity and molecular levels is discussed in the idea of defining a cellular profile that would characterize neuronal populations preferentially affected by the degenerative process. These data indicate that certain neurons of origin of specific intracortical projections and displaying a high degree of cellular specialization are selectively vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease and show an increased sensitivity even in normal brain aging. The study of such neuronal populations in dementia as well as in aging or in animal models may lead to the development of therapeutic agents that would protect these particular cells against the mechanisms of the degenerative process.