OBJECTIVE: We conducted a quantitative investigation of brain arterial atherosclerotic damage and its relationship to sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-four consecutive autopsy cases, 32 AD and 22 nondemented control subjects, were examined to establish the degree of arterial stenosis. Vessel external and lumenal area measurements were taken from 3-mm arterial cross-sections to calculate a stenosis index. AD patient circle of Willis arteries possessed a significant degree of stenosis as a consequence of multiple and severe atherosclerotic lesions. These lesions were significantly more severe in AD cases than in age-matched controls (P<0.0001), and the number of stenoses and the index of occlusion (R=0.67; P<0.00001) were positively correlated. In addition, the index of stenosis significantly correlated with the following measures of AD neuropathological lesions: total plaque score, neuritic plaque score, neurofibrillary tangle score, Braak stage score, and white matter rarefaction score. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals an association between severe circle of Willis atherosclerosis and sporadic AD that should be considered a risk factor for this dementia. These observations strongly suggest that atherosclerosis-induced brain hypoperfusion contributes to the clinical and pathological manifestations of AD.
OBJECTIVE: We conducted a quantitative investigation of brain arterial atherosclerotic damage and its relationship to sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-four consecutive autopsy cases, 32 AD and 22 nondemented control subjects, were examined to establish the degree of arterial stenosis. Vessel external and lumenal area measurements were taken from 3-mm arterial cross-sections to calculate a stenosis index. ADpatient circle of Willis arteries possessed a significant degree of stenosis as a consequence of multiple and severe atherosclerotic lesions. These lesions were significantly more severe in AD cases than in age-matched controls (P<0.0001), and the number of stenoses and the index of occlusion (R=0.67; P<0.00001) were positively correlated. In addition, the index of stenosis significantly correlated with the following measures of AD neuropathological lesions: total plaque score, neuritic plaque score, neurofibrillary tangle score, Braak stage score, and white matter rarefaction score. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals an association between severe circle of Willis atherosclerosis and sporadic AD that should be considered a risk factor for this dementia. These observations strongly suggest that atherosclerosis-induced brain hypoperfusion contributes to the clinical and pathological manifestations of AD.
Authors: Bruce R Reed; Natalie L Marchant; William J Jagust; Charles C DeCarli; Wendy Mack; Helena C Chui Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2011-11-10 Impact factor: 4.673
Authors: Monica Garcia-Alloza; Julia Gregory; Kishore V Kuchibhotla; Sara Fine; Ying Wei; Cenk Ayata; Matthew P Frosch; Steven M Greenberg; Brian J Bacskai Journal: Brain Date: 2011-11-26 Impact factor: 13.501
Authors: L H Kuller; O L Lopez; W J Jagust; J T Becker; S T DeKosky; C Lyketsos; C Kawas; J C S Breitner; A Fitzpatrick; C Dulberg Journal: Neurology Date: 2005-05-10 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Hyung Jin Ahn; Daria Zamolodchikov; Marta Cortes-Canteli; Erin H Norris; J Fraser Glickman; Sidney Strickland Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2010-11-22 Impact factor: 11.205