Skip to content

Alzheimer's disease.

Literature Information

DOI10.1016/B978-0-12-804766-8.00013-3
PMID31753135
JournalHandbook of clinical neurology
Publication Year2019
Times Cited351
KeywordsAlzheimer's disease, Amnestic, Amyloid, Biomarker, Dementia
Literature TypeJournal Article, Review
ISSN0072-9752
Pages231-255
Issue167()
AuthorsJose A Soria Lopez, Hector M González, Gabriel C Léger

TL;DR

Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is characterized by cognitive decline and specific neuropathological changes, with modern criteria enabling the recognition of preclinical stages through biomarkers. The research highlights the complex interplay of amyloid and tau pathology, alongside metabolic and inflammatory factors, in disease progression, emphasizing the urgent need for effective disease-modifying therapies despite the limited impact of current symptomatic treatments.

Search for more papers on MaltSci.com

Alzheimer's disease · Amnestic · Amyloid · Biomarker · Dementia

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia refers to a particular onset and course of cognitive and functional decline associated with age together with a particular neuropathology. It was first described by Alois Alzheimer in 1906 about a patient whom he first encountered in 1901. Modern clinical diagnostic criteria have been developed, and criteria have also been proposed to recognize preclinical (or presymptomatic) stages of the disease with the use of biomarkers. The primary neuropathology was described by Alzheimer, and in the mid-1980s subsequently evolved into a more specific neuropathologic definition that recognizes the comorbid neuropathologies that frequently contribute to clinical dementia. Alzheimer's disease is now the most common form of neurodegenerative dementia in the United States with a disproportionate disease burden in minority populations. Deficits in the ability to encode and store new memories characterizes the initial stages of the disease. Subsequent progressive changes in cognition and behavior accompany the later stages. Changes in amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage and production of the APP fragment beta-amyloid (Aβ) along with hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregation coalesce to cause reduction in synaptic strength, synaptic loss, and neurodegeneration. Metabolic, vascular, and inflammatory changes, as well as comorbid pathologies are key components of the disease process. Symptomatic treatment offers a modest, clinically measurable effect in cognition, but disease-modifying therapies are desperately needed.

MaltSci.com AI Research Service

Intelligent ReadingAnswer any question about the paper and explain complex charts and formulas
Locate StatementsFind traces of a specific claim within the paper
Add to KBasePerform data extraction, report drafting, and advanced knowledge mining

Primary Questions Addressed

  1. What are the latest findings on the interaction between lifestyle factors and Alzheimer's disease progression?
  2. How do emerging biomarkers like amyloid β oligomers and synaptic markers compare to traditional biomarkers in terms of diagnostic accuracy?
  3. What role does tau PET imaging play in the early diagnosis and differentiation of Alzheimer's disease from other types of dementia?
  4. How might the concept of preclinical Alzheimer's disease change the approach to early intervention and treatment strategies?
  5. What are the implications of combining anti-Alzheimer's therapies with lifestyle interventions for long-term patient outcomes?

Key Findings

Key Insights

  1. Research Background and Objective
    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive and functional decline primarily associated with aging and specific neuropathological changes. First identified by Alois Alzheimer in 1906, the disease has evolved in understanding, particularly regarding its preclinical stages and the role of biomarkers in diagnosis. This research addresses the need to clarify the complex pathological processes underlying AD, including the interplay of various comorbidities, and to enhance diagnostic criteria for better identification of early-stage disease.

  2. Main Methods and Findings
    The study highlights the advancement of clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in recognizing presymptomatic stages through biomarker utilization. Key neuropathological findings include alterations in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing leading to the accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregates. These changes contribute to synaptic dysfunction, loss, and ultimately neurodegeneration. The research also notes the significant disease burden among minority populations in the U.S., emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to address disparities in AD prevalence and management.

  3. Core Conclusion
    Alzheimer's disease remains the leading cause of neurodegenerative dementia in the United States, marked by an initial impairment in memory formation followed by progressive cognitive and behavioral decline. Although symptomatic treatments exist, they provide only modest cognitive improvements. The findings underscore the urgent need for disease-modifying therapies to halt or reverse the progression of AD, highlighting the complexity of its pathology.

  4. Research Significance and Impact
    This research is pivotal in enhancing our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease as a multifaceted condition influenced by various neuropathological processes, including metabolic, vascular, and inflammatory factors. By refining diagnostic criteria and emphasizing early detection through biomarkers, the study advocates for a proactive approach in managing AD. The insights may lead to improved patient outcomes and inform public health strategies to mitigate the impact of AD, particularly among at-risk minority populations. Moreover, the call for effective disease-modifying treatments highlights a critical area for future research that could revolutionize the management of Alzheimer’s disease and significantly improve the quality of life for affected individuals and their families.

Literatures Citing This Work

  1. The Use of Antimicrobial and Antiviral Drugs in Alzheimer's Disease. - Umar H Iqbal;Emma Zeng;Giulio M Pasinetti - International journal of molecular sciences (2020)
  2. Small GTPases of the Ras and Rho Families Switch on/off Signaling Pathways in Neurodegenerative Diseases. - Alazne Arrazola Sastre;Miriam Luque Montoro;Patricia Gálvez-Martín;Hadriano M Lacerda;Alejandro M Lucia;Francisco Llavero;José Luis Zugaza - International journal of molecular sciences (2020)
  3. Disease Ionomics: Understanding the Role of Ions in Complex Disease. - Yan Zhang;Yinzhen Xu;Lin Zheng - International journal of molecular sciences (2020)
  4. A Sensitive and Cost-Effective Chemiluminescence ELISA for Measurement of Amyloid-β 1-42 Peptide in Human Plasma. - Pankaj D Mehta;Bruce A Patrick;David L Miller;Patricia K Coyle;Thomas Wisniewski - Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD (2020)
  5. Lifetime Impact of Cow's Milk on Overactivation of mTORC1: From Fetal to Childhood Overgrowth, Acne, Diabetes, Cancers, and Neurodegeneration. - Bodo C Melnik - Biomolecules (2021)
  6. Neuroimmune connections between corticotropin-releasing hormone and mast cells: novel strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. - Piplu Bhuiyan;Yi-Wei Wang;Huan-Huan Sha;Hong-Quan Dong;Yan-Ning Qian - Neural regeneration research (2021)
  7. A novel small-molecule PROTAC selectively promotes tau clearance to improve cognitive functions in Alzheimer-like models. - Weijin Wang;Qiuzhi Zhou;Tao Jiang;Shihong Li;Jinwang Ye;Jie Zheng;Xin Wang;Yanchao Liu;Minmin Deng;Dan Ke;Qun Wang;Yipeng Wang;Jian-Zhi Wang - Theranostics (2021)
  8. Common Problematic Scholarly Activity Project Planning Expectations of Project Novices. - Samuel J Wisniewski;William D Corser - Spartan medical research journal (2021)
  9. Outlining In Vitro and In Silico Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Twenty-Four Natural Products of Various Chemical Classes: Smilagenin, Kokusaginine, and Methyl Rosmarinate as Emboldening Inhibitors. - F Sezer Senol Deniz;Gokcen Eren;Ilkay Erdogan Orhan;Bilge Sener;Ufuk Ozgen;Randa Aldaba;Ihsan Calis - Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
  10. Recent Developments in New Therapeutic Agents against Alzheimer and Parkinson Diseases: In-Silico Approaches. - Pedro Cruz-Vicente;Luís A Passarinha;Samuel Silvestre;Eugenia Gallardo - Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)

... (341 more literatures)


© 2025 MaltSci - We reshape scientific research with AI technology