Localisation and association of pathomorphological changes at the brainstem in Alzheimer's disease.
The brainstems of ten patients with Alzheimer's disease were examined with specific silver impregnations for beta-amyloid deposits, neurofibrillary tangles, neuropil threads and neuritic plaques. The results show a selective and focal involvement of brainstem nuclei, which are diffusely connected to the cortex or are neuronally connected with other damaged subcortical and cortical regions. Therefore, it is concluded that neuronal connectivity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease lesions. This may be due to the intraneuronal transport of beta-amyloid precursor protein. There was a local association between neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads, but not between beta-amyloid structures on the one hand and neurofibrillary structures on the other hand. Neuritic plaques were rarely found.
Giess
R
R
Neuropathologisches Institut, J.W. Goethe Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Schlote
W
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011149:Pons / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides