Cerebral amyloid angiopathy and its relationship to Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by the deposition of the amyloid beta-protein (A beta) within cerebral vessels. The involvement of different brain areas in CAA follows a hierarchical sequence similar to that of Alzheimer-related senile plaques. Alzheimer's disease patients frequently exhibit CAA. The expansion of CAA in AD often shows the pattern of full-blown CAA. The deposition of A beta within capillaries distinguishes two types of CAA. One with capillary A beta-deposition is characterized by a strong association with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 allele and by its frequent occurrence in Alzheimer's disease cases whereas the other one lacking capillary A beta-deposits is not associated with APOE epsilon 4. Capillary CAA can be seen in every stage of CAA or AD-related A beta-deposition. AD cases with capillary CAA show more widespread capillary A beta-deposition than non-demented cases as well as capillary occlusion. In a mouse model of CAA, capillary CAA was associated with capillary occlusion and cerebral blood flow disturbances. Thus, blood flow alterations with subsequent hypoperfusion induced by CAA-related capillary occlusion presumably point to a second mechanism in which A beta adversely affects the brain in AD in addition to its direct neurotoxic effects.

• Authors: Dietmar Rudolf Thal, W Sue T Griffin, Rob A I de Vos, Estifanos Ghebremedhin
• Journal: Acta neuropathologica (Acta Neuropathol) Vol. 115 Issue 6 Pg. 599-609 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 0001-6322 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 18369648 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Amyloid
• Apolipoprotein E4

Topics

• Alzheimer Disease (complications, genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Amyloid (metabolism)
• Apolipoprotein E4 (genetics)
• Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (complications, genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans