Hanyang Med Rev.  2006 Feb;26(1):4-13.

Pathogenic Mechanism of Alzheimer's Disease

• Han SH

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is regarded as a prototype of the neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory impairment and multiple cognitive deficits in mid- to late- life. Its pathological hallmarks consist of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the cerebral cortex, accompanied by neuronal loss. These neuropathological findings are prominent in the temporal neocortex and hippocampus. There are a small proportion of AD cases (10%) that appear to be transmitted as pure autosomal dominant Mendelian traits with age-dependent, but, high penetrance. Molecular genetic studies on pedigrees with the latter type of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) with molecular genetic tools has led to the discovery of four different genetic loci associated with inherited susceptibility to AD. It is generally suggested that late-onset AD is caused by a complex set of genetic and environmental factors, such as diet, blood pressure, education, social interaction, and others. In this communication, some of the known risk factors relevant to etiopathogenesis of AD to date will be briefly reviewed.

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease; Etiopathogenesis; Amyloid cascade hypothesis; Risk factors; Thera peutic targets

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease*
Blood Pressure
Cerebral Cortex
Diet
Education
Genetic Loci
Hippocampus
Interpersonal Relations
Memory
Molecular Biology
Neocortex
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurofibrillary Tangles
Neurons
Penetrance
Plaque, Amyloid
Risk Factors