Abstract
From a clinical as well as a neuropathological point of view Alzheimers disease (AD) has been the focus of intense research for more than three decades. Most studies to identify morphometric correlates with the declining cognitive function in normal aging and AD have employed semi-quantitative methods to assess neuropathological markers such as neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques, neuronal, or glial cell densities, and neuron sizes. To this end, many cell counting methods have employed two-dimensional designs in single sections, yielding estimates of cell numbers either as neuron densities (number of cell profiles per area) or estimates of the size distribution of neuron profiles in columns vertical to the cortical surface. This approach gives rise to difficulties in interpretation because of the three-dimensional size, shape, and orientation of the counted cells, and the effect of shrinkage artifacts. Modern stereological techniques offer a more rigorous approach for quantifying neuropathological changes associated with aging and degenerative disease. However the stereological studies also suffer from the limitations of high biological variability in AD-type neuropathology, and the relative scarcity of autopsied brains from well-studied non-demented comparison subjects. As a result, the clinicopathological associations between neuropathology and indices of cognitive performance in aging and AD are not yet firmly established. The requirement for the proper description of morphologic neuropathology of AD is clear: any macroscopic or microscopic abnormalities, are subtle and must consequently be demonstrated reproducibly in well-controlled studies. In this review we try to evaluate which, if any, of the contemporary claims for morphometric brain abnormalities in AD can be said to be well established, with special emphasis placed on human stereological post-mortal studies.
Keywords: cerebrum, dementia, glial cell numbers, neuron numbers, quantitation, stereological
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: Measuring Morphological and Cellular Changes in Alzheimers Dementia: A Review Emphasizing Stereology
Volume: 2 Issue: 4
Author(s): Anette K. Stark, Dorte P. Pelvig, Anne-Marie B. Jorgensen, Birgitte B. Andersen and Bente Pakkenberg
Affiliation:
Keywords: cerebrum, dementia, glial cell numbers, neuron numbers, quantitation, stereological
Abstract: From a clinical as well as a neuropathological point of view Alzheimers disease (AD) has been the focus of intense research for more than three decades. Most studies to identify morphometric correlates with the declining cognitive function in normal aging and AD have employed semi-quantitative methods to assess neuropathological markers such as neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques, neuronal, or glial cell densities, and neuron sizes. To this end, many cell counting methods have employed two-dimensional designs in single sections, yielding estimates of cell numbers either as neuron densities (number of cell profiles per area) or estimates of the size distribution of neuron profiles in columns vertical to the cortical surface. This approach gives rise to difficulties in interpretation because of the three-dimensional size, shape, and orientation of the counted cells, and the effect of shrinkage artifacts. Modern stereological techniques offer a more rigorous approach for quantifying neuropathological changes associated with aging and degenerative disease. However the stereological studies also suffer from the limitations of high biological variability in AD-type neuropathology, and the relative scarcity of autopsied brains from well-studied non-demented comparison subjects. As a result, the clinicopathological associations between neuropathology and indices of cognitive performance in aging and AD are not yet firmly established. The requirement for the proper description of morphologic neuropathology of AD is clear: any macroscopic or microscopic abnormalities, are subtle and must consequently be demonstrated reproducibly in well-controlled studies. In this review we try to evaluate which, if any, of the contemporary claims for morphometric brain abnormalities in AD can be said to be well established, with special emphasis placed on human stereological post-mortal studies.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Stark K. Anette, Pelvig P. Dorte, Jorgensen B. Anne-Marie, Andersen B. Birgitte and Pakkenberg Bente, Measuring Morphological and Cellular Changes in Alzheimers Dementia: A Review Emphasizing Stereology, Current Alzheimer Research 2005; 2 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720505774330528
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720505774330528 |
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
-
Novel Insights for Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders with Apoptosis, Autophagy, FoxO, and mTOR
Current Neurovascular Research Genetically-mediated Grey and White Matter Alteration in Normal Elderly Individuals with the CLU-C Allele Gene
Current Alzheimer Research Applications of Arterial Spin Labelling in Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimers Disease and Other Forms of Dementia
Current Medical Imaging Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors and Drugs Acting on Muscarinic Receptors- Potential Crosstalk of Cholinergic Mechanisms During Pharmacological Treatment
Current Neuropharmacology A Decrease in the Cellular Phosphodiester to Phosphomonoester Lipid Ratio is Characteristic of HIV-1 Infection
Current HIV Research Heterologous Production of Death Ligands’ and Death Receptors’ Extracellular Domains: Structural Features and Efficient Systems
Protein & Peptide Letters Serum Amyloid Beta Peptides in Patients with Dementia and Age-Matched Non-Demented Controls as Detected by Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption Ionisation-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS)
Current Clinical Pharmacology Cardiovascular Pharmacogenomics
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Nanomedicine against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Aromatase Inhibitors: A New Reality for the Adjuvant Endocrine Treatment of Early-Stage Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry The prediction of response to Galantamine treatment in Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Post-Translational Protein Modifications of Rare and Unconventional Types: Implications in Functions and Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry A Possible Link of Gut Microbiota Alteration in Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenicity: An Update
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Protective Substances Against Zinc-Induced Neuronal Death after Ischemia:Carnosine as a Target for Drug of Vascular Type of Dementia
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors: Instrumental Drugs to Understand Cardiovascular Homeostasis and Arterial Thrombosis
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Insights from Mouse Models to Understand Neurodegeneration in Down Syndrome
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Are Retinoids a Promise for Alzheimer’s Disease Management?
Current Medicinal Chemistry Insulin Resistance in Brain and Possible Therapeutic Approaches
Current Vascular Pharmacology Total Bakkenolides Protects Neurons Against Cerebral Ischemic Injury Through Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-κB Activation
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Current Role of Statin Therapy in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry