Abstract
Since their first description by Ramon y Cajal at the end of the 19th century, dendritic spines have been proposed as important sites of neuronal contacts and it has been suggested that changes in the activity of neurons directly affect spine morphology. In fact, since then it has been shown that about 90% of excitatory synapses end on spines. Recent data indicate that spines are highly dynamic structures and that spine shape correlates with the strength of synaptic transmission. Furthermore, several mental disorders including Alzheimers disease (AD) are associated with spine pathology suggesting that spine alterations play a central role in mental deficits. The aim of this review is to provide an overview about the current knowledge on spine morphology and function as well as about different experimental models to analyze spine changes and dynamics. The second part concentrates on disease-relevant factors that are associated with AD and which lead to spine alterations. In particular, data that provide evidence that Aβ oligomers or fibrillar Aβ deposits influence spine morphology and function will be presented and the contribution of tau pathology will be discussed. The review ends with the discussion of potential mechanisms how disease-relevant factors influence dendritic spines and whether and how spine changes could be therapeutically suppressed or reversed.
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: Thin, Stubby or Mushroom: Spine Pathology in Alzheimers Disease
Volume: 6 Issue: 3
Author(s): C. Tackenberg, A. Ghori and R. Brandt
Affiliation:
Abstract: Since their first description by Ramon y Cajal at the end of the 19th century, dendritic spines have been proposed as important sites of neuronal contacts and it has been suggested that changes in the activity of neurons directly affect spine morphology. In fact, since then it has been shown that about 90% of excitatory synapses end on spines. Recent data indicate that spines are highly dynamic structures and that spine shape correlates with the strength of synaptic transmission. Furthermore, several mental disorders including Alzheimers disease (AD) are associated with spine pathology suggesting that spine alterations play a central role in mental deficits. The aim of this review is to provide an overview about the current knowledge on spine morphology and function as well as about different experimental models to analyze spine changes and dynamics. The second part concentrates on disease-relevant factors that are associated with AD and which lead to spine alterations. In particular, data that provide evidence that Aβ oligomers or fibrillar Aβ deposits influence spine morphology and function will be presented and the contribution of tau pathology will be discussed. The review ends with the discussion of potential mechanisms how disease-relevant factors influence dendritic spines and whether and how spine changes could be therapeutically suppressed or reversed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Tackenberg C., Ghori A. and Brandt R., Thin, Stubby or Mushroom: Spine Pathology in Alzheimers Disease, Current Alzheimer Research 2009; 6 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720509788486554
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720509788486554 |
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
-
Defective Insulin Signalling, Mediated by Inflammation, Connects Obesity to Alzheimer Disease; Relevant Pharmacological Therapies and Preventive Dietary Interventions
Current Alzheimer Research Phytotherapy for the Prevention of Atherosclerosis-Associated Early Cerebral Ischemia
Current Drug Metabolism Allosteric Modulation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: The Concept and Therapeutic Trends
Current Pharmaceutical Design Transgenic Mice as a Model of Pre-Clinical Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Glutamate Receptors as Therapeutic Targets for Parkinsons Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets COVID-19 in People with Diabetes: Perspectives from Saudi Arabia
Current Diabetes Reviews Common SAR Derived from Linear and Non-linear QSAR Studies on AChE Inhibitors used in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Current Neuropharmacology The Role of Malnutrition in Older Persons with Mobility Limitations
Current Pharmaceutical Design Effect of PSEN1 mutations on MAPT methylation in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
Current Alzheimer Research Parkinson’s Disease: Is there a Role for Dietary and Herbal Supplements?
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Reduction of Aβ Levels in the Sprague Dawley Rat After Oral Administration of the Functional g-Secretase Inhibitor, DAPT: A Novel Non- Transgenic Model for Aβ Production Inhibitors
Current Pharmaceutical Design Dietary Polyphenols for Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease– Future Research and Development
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Editorial [Hot Topic New Clinical Indications of Antipsychotic Medications Guest Editors: Filippo Bogetto and Silvio Bellino]
Current Psychopharmacology Laboratory Techniques for Human Viral Encephalitis Diagnosis
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Bridge Between Neuroimmunity and Traumatic Brain Injury
Current Pharmaceutical Design Physiological Effect and Therapeutic Application of Alpha Lipoic Acid
Current Medicinal Chemistry Methods and Compositions for Amplification and Detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) and Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) Using the Signature Sequence Amplification Method (SSAM)
Recent Advances in DNA & Gene Sequences (Discontinued) Targeted Hydrolysis of Beta-Amyloid with Engineered Antibody Fragments
Current Alzheimer Research The Innate Immunity in Alzheimer Disease- Relevance to Pathogenesis and Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Alzheimer’s Disease Genetic Risk Factor APOE-ε4 Also Affects Normal Brain Function
Current Alzheimer Research