Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Wegiel J, Flory M, Kuchna I, Nowicki K, Yong Ma S, Wegiel J, Badmaev E, Silverman W, de Leon M, Reisberg B, Wisniewski T
Journal J Neuropathol Exp Neurol
Volume 76
Issue 6
Pagination 439-457
Date Published 06/01/2017
ISSN 1554-6578
Keywords Aging, Amyloidosis, Brain, Neurofibrillary Tangles, Neurons
Abstract Increase in human life expectancy has resulted in the rapid growth of the elderly population with minimal or no intellectual deterioration. The aim of this stereological study of 10 structures and 5 subdivisions with and without neurofibrillary degeneration in the brains of 28 individuals 25-102-years-old was to establish the pattern of age-associated neurodegeneration and neuronal loss in the brains of nondemented adults and elderly. The study revealed the absence of significant neuronal loss in 7 regions and topographically selective reduction of neuronal reserve over 77 years in 8 brain structures including the entorhinal cortex (EC) (-33.3%), the second layer of the EC (-54%), cornu Ammonis sector 1 (CA1) (-28.5%), amygdala, (-45.8%), thalamus (-40.5%), caudate nucleus (-35%), Purkinje cells (-48.3%), and neurons in the dentate nucleus (40.1%). A similar rate of neuronal loss in adults and elderly, without signs of accelerating neuronal loss in agers or super-agers, appears to indicate age-associated brain remodeling with significant reduction of neuronal reserve in 8 brain regions. Multivariate analysis demonstrates the absence of a significant association between neuronal loss and the severity of neurofibrillary degeneration and β-amyloidosis, and a similar rate of age-associated neuronal loss in structures with and without neurofibrillary degeneration.
DOI 10.1093/jnen/nlx027
PubMed ID 28505333
PubMed Central ID PMC5901097
Back to Top