Accumulation of ‘beta-amyloid protein’ even without damage to cognitive function areas of the brain
Entered 2023.10.24 16:12 Views 22 Entered 2023.10.24 16:12 Views 22
Research results have shown that cerebral infarction, a type of stroke, can also develop into Alzheimer’s dementia. [사진=게티이미지뱅크]Research results have shown that cerebral infarction, a type of stroke, can also develop into Alzheimer’s dementia. Accumulation of ‘beta-amyloid (Aβ) protein’, which is known to cause Alzheimer’s dementia, was confirmed in approximately 30% of patients who experienced mild cerebral infarction (small cerebral infarction).
Recently, the team of Professors Kang Seong-hoon and Kim Chi-kyung of the Department of Neurology and Professor Jae-seon Eo of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital announced the results of a study that analyzed the causes of the aftereffects of cognitive decline caused by ‘small-sized cerebral infarction’ (microinfarction or raccoon).
Cerebral infarction is a disease in which blood vessels in the brain are blocked and blood cannot flow properly, causing necrosis of part of the brain tissue. At this time, the thin blood vessels in the brain are blocked, and when the damaged area is very small, it is called a small-sized cerebral infarction. A typical aftereffect of cerebral infarction is a decline in cognitive function, which is usually because the area of the brain damaged by cerebral infarction is large or the brain area that controls cognitive function is damaged.
On the other hand, among patients with small-sized cerebral infarction, even though there is no brain damage that directly affects cognitive function, aftereffects of cognitive decline may occur, making it difficult to predict prognosis in the treatment field. This study confirmed the basis for inferring the cause of the aftereffects of cognitive decline despite the absence of such brain damage. It was ‘beta-amyloid protein’, which is pointed out as the cause of Alzheimer’s dementia.
The research team conducted several detailed tests over a period of one year on 37 patients aged 50 or older who were hospitalized with small-sized acute cerebral infarction to track the development of aftereffects of cognitive decline. Three months after the cerebral infarction, neuropsychological tests and amyloid PET tests were performed, and one year later, simple cognitive function tests and clinical dementia scale tests were performed.
As a result of the analysis, beta-amyloid protein accumulation was confirmed in 11 of 37 patients (29.7%), and 7 of these 11 patients (63.6%) developed cognitive decline after cerebral infarction. A significant correlation was confirmed that accumulation of beta-amyloid protein can cause cognitive decline after small-sized cerebral infarction. Since the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein and decline in cognitive function are highly likely to develop into Alzheimer’s dementia, we have established a basis for predicting the poor prognosis of these patients in the long term and implementing preventive treatment.
Professor Seong-Hoon Kang said, “We confirmed that the degree of accumulation of beta-amyloid protein is an indicator that can predict the possibility of cognitive decline in patients with small-sized cerebral infarction as well as Alzheimer’s dementia.” He added, “We will use beta-amyloid antibody drugs (aducanumab, donanemab) in the future.” “It will be able to provide evidence that can be used to prevent the aftereffects of cognitive decline in patients with small-sized cerebral infarction,” he explained.
This study was conducted with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea, and was published in ‘Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy’, a famous overseas academic journal related to Alzheimer’s disease, titled ‘Independent effect of Aβ burden on cognitive impairment in patients with small subcortical infarction’ ( It was published under the title “Independent effect of beta-amyloid protein accumulation on cognitive decline in patients with small-sized cerebral infarction.” The thesis is Corresponding link (https://alzres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13195-023-01307-5)You can check it here.
2023-10-24 07:12:56
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