Erschienen in:
01.03.2012 | Correspondence
Asymmetry of neurodegenerative disease-related pathologies: a cautionary note
verfasst von:
Harald Stefanits, Herbert Budka, Gabor G. Kovacs
Erschienen in:
Acta Neuropathologica
|
Ausgabe 3/2012
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Excerpt
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized neuropathologically by the presence of amyloid plaques (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (tau). In addition, molecular pathologic examinations revealed concomitant protein depositions (in particular TDP-43 or α-synuclein), in various combinations with AD associated pathology [
8]. Earlier papers evaluating senile changes in the brain noted variable asymmetric pathology without predominance of either hemisphere [
6]. Two further papers, one on the evaluation of 5 patients [
14] and another on 56 [
7] indicated differences between the left and right hippocampus; differences were highly significant for plaques, tangles and also for granulovacuolar degeneration. Diagnostic and staging criteria developed after these studies did not provide recommendations for the side to be evaluated [
2‐
4,
10]. Furthermore, asymmetric distribution of neuronal loss and gliosis correlating with clinical symptoms (e.g., progressive aphasia or apraxia) is a feature of various molecular forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Unilateral Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease has been also reported [
15]. A recent comprehensive study indicated asymmetric involvement of the medial temporal lobe in patients with advanced argyrophilic grain disease [
1]. …