Pathological aging brains contain the same amyloid plaques as Alzheimer’s disease

AD is the most common cause of dementia. It can result in loss of memory, mood changes, and cause problems with communication and reasoning. The disease is characterized by large numbers of Aβ plaques, tangles and neuroinflammation changes within the brain. People with PA also have Aβ plaques, but less neuroinflammation and other AD specific brain changes, so it has been previously suggested that the Aβ plaques in PA are different and somehow less toxic than those in AD.

Researchers from University of Florida and Mayo Clinic, supported by the National Institute of Health, compared post-mortem brain tissue from people with AD, PA, and controls. When they looked at the type and amount of Aβ they found that while both AD and PA had elevated levels of Aβ on average levels were slightly lower in PA. Comparing subtypes of Ab demonstrated that there was a great deal of similarity and overlap between AD and PA and biochemical analysis showed both AD and PA have dramatically, but equivalent, higher levels of insoluble Aβ, compared to controls. Further studies showed that that there were really no major differences between the accumulated Aβ in both AD and PA.

Dr Todd Golde, who coordinated the research, commented, "We found a high degree of overlap in Ab levels, profiles, and solubility, between the brains of people with PA and AD. While there might be some subtle differences in Aβ, it seems that PA may represent an early stage of AD rather than a benign form of Aβ deposition, and that if they live long enough people with PA will go on to develop AD. We hope that understanding the differences between PA and AD will provide new ways to help protect the brain and promote the development of AD therapeutics."