Cerebrovascular muscle atrophy is a feature of Alzheimer's disease.
We examined vascular amyloid-beta deposition and other abnormalities in the posterior cerebral artery of consecutive cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to controls. Smooth muscle atrophy was a consistent feature in the cases of AD examined (p<0.01) and was surprisingly independent of adjacent amyloid-beta deposition. These findings suggest that vascular abnormalities are a consistent feature in AD and may be an important contributor to the pathogenesis and complications of AD.
Perry
G
G
Institute of Pathology, 2085 Adelbert Road, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. gxp7@po.cwru.edu
Smith
M A
MA
McCann
C E
CE
Siedlak
S L
SL
Jones
P K
PK
Friedland
R P
RP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000098:blood supply*