title: A4 amyloid protein deposition and the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: prevalence in aged brains determined by immunocytochemistry compared with conventional neuropathologic techniques.
abstract: The histologic diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be aided if a more sensitive marker of aberrant A4 amyloid protein deposition were available. We screened a sample of aged brains, using immunocytochemical methods to detect the A4 protein deposition, and found that, in comparison with conventional histologic techniques (silver impregnation and Congo red), immunocytochemistry is more sensitive and allows an easier demarcation between "normal" and "abnormal." If A4 protein deposition is accepted as a definitive marker for AD, then the age-related prevalence of AD increases dramatically. To what degree these prevalence rates are reflected in clinically detectable impairment of higher cortical function remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolska
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hilbich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Multhaup
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simms
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beyreuther
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Masters
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000682:Amyloid / Q000032:analysis*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides