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Alzheimer disease

AD pathology—emerging subtypes or age-of-onset spectrum?

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 8, pages 11–12 (2012)Cite this article

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A new cross-sectional study proposes three subtypes of Alzheimer disease: hippocampal-sparing, typical and limbic-predominant, associated with average lifespans of 72, 79 and 86 years, respectively. A longitudinal view suggests that age might be a major neuropathological determinant, with typical cases having younger onset and limbic-predominant cases having older onset.

A study by Murray and colleagues recently published in The Lancet Neurology1 investigates the clinical significance of neuropathologically defined subtypes of Alzheimer disease (AD). The authors emphasize the importance of recognizing atypical forms of AD that might be relevant when designing clinical and therapeutic studies.

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Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurosciences and Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093-0624, CA, USA

    Eliezer Masliah & Lawrence A. Hansen

Authors
  1. Eliezer Masliah
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  2. Lawrence A. Hansen
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Correspondence to Eliezer Masliah.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Cite this article

Masliah, E., Hansen, L. AD pathology—emerging subtypes or age-of-onset spectrum?. Nat Rev Neurol 8, 11–12 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2011.205

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2011.205

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