Abstract
Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are an integral part of the dementia syndrome and were therefore recently included in the core diagnostic criteria of dementia. The near universal prevalence of NPS in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), combined with their disabling effects on patients and caregivers, is contrasted by the fact that few effective and safe treatments exist, which is in part to be attributed to our incomplete understanding of the neurobiology of NPS. In this review, we describe the pathological alterations typical for AD, including spreading and evolution of burden, effect on the molecular and cellular integrity, functional consequences and atrophy of NPS-relevant brain regions and circuits in correlation with specific NPS assessments. It is thereby clearly established that NPS are fundamental expressions of the underlying neurodegenerative brain disease and not simply reflect the patients’ secondary response to their illness. Neuropathological studies, moreover, include a majority of end-stage patient samples, which may not correctly represent the pathophysiological environment responsible for particular NPS that may already be present in an early stage, or even prior to AD diagnosis. The burdensome nature and high prevalence of NPS, in combination with the absence of effective and safe pharmacotherapies, provide a strong incentive to continue neuropathological and neurochemical, as well as imaging and other relevant approaches to further improve our apprehension of the neurobiology of NPS.
Keywords: Aggression, amyloid, depression, neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal loss, psychosis, neurotransmitter.
Current Alzheimer Research
Title:Neuropsychiatric Disturbances in Alzheimer’s Disease: What Have We Learned from Neuropathological Studies?
Volume: 13 Issue: 10
Author(s): Debby Van Dam, Yannick Vermeiren, Alain D. Dekker, Petrus J.W. Naudé and Peter P. De Deyn
Affiliation:
Keywords: Aggression, amyloid, depression, neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal loss, psychosis, neurotransmitter.
Abstract: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are an integral part of the dementia syndrome and were therefore recently included in the core diagnostic criteria of dementia. The near universal prevalence of NPS in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), combined with their disabling effects on patients and caregivers, is contrasted by the fact that few effective and safe treatments exist, which is in part to be attributed to our incomplete understanding of the neurobiology of NPS. In this review, we describe the pathological alterations typical for AD, including spreading and evolution of burden, effect on the molecular and cellular integrity, functional consequences and atrophy of NPS-relevant brain regions and circuits in correlation with specific NPS assessments. It is thereby clearly established that NPS are fundamental expressions of the underlying neurodegenerative brain disease and not simply reflect the patients’ secondary response to their illness. Neuropathological studies, moreover, include a majority of end-stage patient samples, which may not correctly represent the pathophysiological environment responsible for particular NPS that may already be present in an early stage, or even prior to AD diagnosis. The burdensome nature and high prevalence of NPS, in combination with the absence of effective and safe pharmacotherapies, provide a strong incentive to continue neuropathological and neurochemical, as well as imaging and other relevant approaches to further improve our apprehension of the neurobiology of NPS.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Dam Van Debby, Vermeiren Yannick, Dekker D. Alain, Naudé J.W. Petrus and Deyn P. De Peter, Neuropsychiatric Disturbances in Alzheimer’s Disease: What Have We Learned from Neuropathological Studies?, Current Alzheimer Research 2016; 13 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205013666160502123607
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205013666160502123607 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New Advances in the Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Alzheimer's Disease
Aims and Scope: Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing prevalence that demands concerted efforts to advance our understanding and strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. This thematic issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from multidisciplinary perspectives to address ...read more
Current updates on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroinflammation is an invariable hallmark of chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders and has long been considered a potential drug target for Alzheimer?s disease (AD) and dementia. Significant evidence of inflammatory processes as a feature of AD is provided by the presence of inflammatory markers in plasma, CSF and postmortem brain ...read more
Deep Learning for Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing number of individuals affected yearly. Deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has shown immense potential in various domains, including healthcare. This thematic issue of Current Alzheimer Research explores the application of deep learning techniques in advancing our ...read more
Diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of dementia
Dementia affects 18 million people worldwide. Dementia is a syndrome of symptoms caused by brain disease, usually chronic or progressive, clinically characterized by multiple impairments of higher cortical functions such as memory, thinking, orientation, and learning. In addition, in the course of dementia, cognitive deficits are observed, which often hinder ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Biosafety Considerations Using Gamma-Retroviral Vectors in Gene Therapy
Current Gene Therapy From Alpha to Omega with Aβ: Targeting the Multiple Molecular Appearances of the Pathogenic Peptide in Alzheimers Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry ADAM8/MS2/CD156, an Emerging Drug Target in the Treatment of Inflammatory and Invasive Pathologies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Rho as a Target to Promote Repair: Translation to Clinical Studies with Cethrin
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pathogens and Chronic or Long-Term Neurologic Disorders
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Selection and Evaluation of the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgical Candidates
Current Pediatric Reviews Viral Product Trafficking to Mitochondria, Mechanisms and Roles in Pathogenesis
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Editorial (Thematic Issue: Neuroglia as a Central Element of Neurological Diseases: An Underappreciated Target for Therapeutic Intervention)
Current Neuropharmacology Anti-Toxoplasma Activity of Natural Products: A Review
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery A179L, a New Viral Bcl2 Homolog Targeting Beclin 1 Autophagy Related Protein
Current Molecular Medicine Applications of Animal Models of Infectious Arthritis in Drug Discovery:A focus on Alphaviral Disease
Current Drug Targets Structural Heterogeneity and Multifunctionality of Lactoferrin
Current Protein & Peptide Science Editorial [ NeuroAIDS: A Neuroscience Problem with Global Impact ]
Current HIV Research Lipoxin and Synthetic Lipoxin Analogs: An Overview of Anti- Inflammatory Functions and New Concepts in Immunomodulation
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: What Do We Know About it?
Current Medicinal Chemistry Pharmaceutical Targeting of the Brain
Current Pharmaceutical Design Regulatory Triangle of Neurodegeneration, Adult Neurogenesis and MicroRNAs
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets HSV Amplicons: Neuro Applications
Current Gene Therapy The Role of Extracellular Adenosine in Chemical Neurotransmission in the Hippocampus and Basal Ganglia: Pharmacological and Clinical Aspects
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Dengue Patients Treated with Doxycycline Showed Lower Mortality Associated to a Reduction in IL-6 and TNF Levels
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery