Clinical, pathological, and neurochemical changes in dementia: a subgroup with preserved mental status and numerous neocortical plaques.

摘要: Postmortem examination was performed on 137 residents (average age 85.5 years) of a skilled nursing facility whose mental status, memory, and functional status had been evaluated during life. Seventy-eight percent were demented using conservative criteria; 55% characteristic Alzheimer's disease. Choline acetyltransferase somatostatin significantly reduced in the brains patients with disease as compared age-matched home control subjects, although degree reduction less severe than found subjects 80 years age. Ten cognitive performance upper quintile residents, good or better without brain pathology (control subjects), showed pathological features mild disease, many neocortical plaques. Plaque counts 80% those levels intermediate between controls The unexpected findings these higher weights greater number neurons (greater 90 micron 2 cross-sectional area cerebral cortex) to subjects. These people may have incipient but escaped loss large neurons, alternatively, started larger more thus might be said reserve.