title: Neuronal network disintegration: common pathways linking neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: Neurodegeneration refers to a heterogeneous group of brain disorders that progressively evolve. It has been increasingly appreciated that many neurodegenerative conditions overlap at multiple levels and therefore traditional clinicopathological correlation approaches to better classify a disease have met with limited success. Neuronal network disintegration is fundamental to neurodegeneration, and concepts based around such a concept may better explain the overlap between their clinical and pathological phenotypes. In this Review, promoters of overlap in neurodegeneration incorporating behavioural, cognitive, metabolic, motor, and extrapyramidal presentations will be critically appraised. In addition, evidence that may support the existence of large-scale networks that might be contributing to phenotypic differentiation will be considered across a neurodegenerative spectrum. Disintegration of neuronal networks through different pathological processes, such as prion-like spread, may provide a better paradigm of disease and thereby facilitate the identification of novel therapies for neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Medical School Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebekah M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Sydney Medical School Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Devenney
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia School of Psychology, the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Muireann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irish
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ittner
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naismith
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Dementia Research Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Lars M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ittner
authors.affiliation: Dementia Research Centre, University College London Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rohrer
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Glenda M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisen
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.affiliation: Sydney Medical School Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kiernan
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000473:pathology*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype
keywords: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE; COGNITION; DEMENTIA; MOTOR NEURON DISEASE; NEUROANATOMY