Alzheimer's disease is characterized by brain atrophy, loss of neurons, and major loss of synapses. It is primarily a degenerative disorder, even though some aberrant sprouting does occur. To the extent that the abnormal neurites in neuritic plaques might represent a combination of a degenerative and regenerative (1) process, it is more likely that any regenerative process is secondary to the trophic effects of the amyloid precursor protein than to NGF which would affect only neurons with appropriate receptors, namely the cholinergic neurons. Cholinergic terminals constitute only a small percentage of the neurites involved in neuritic plaque formation. In addition, studies in impaired aged rats support the hypothesis that NGF enhances rather than disrupts memory processes.

Alzheimer Disease↗

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Life span and synapses: will there be a primary senile dementia?

In the course of normal aging from about age 20 to 100, the population density of neocortical synapses declines toward, but not reaching, the level found in Alzheimer disease. A deficiency of synapses at birth or due to inadequate childhood education would theoretically cause the synaptic slope to reach the Alzheimer level early. The normal slope would cross into that dementia range at about age 130, resulting in true primary senile dementia without regard to the presence of plaques and tangles.

Adolescent↗

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Relationship between cerebral angiographic circulation time and regional cerebral blood flow.

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Adult↗

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Report of Joint Committee for Stroke Resources. IV. Brain edema in stroke.

A classification of brain edema is provided as well as an extensive review of the animal models from which we have derived most of the basic information we have about the formation and resolution of edema. The clinical aspects of cerebral edema in stroke are discussed and also modern methods for identifying cerebral edema in the human. Attention is given to computed tomography and enhanced CT and advances in their application to this condition. Treatment of cerebral edema in the stroke patient using glycerol, dextran 40, mannitol, steroids, and other drugs is discussed and the need pointed out for controlled clinical trials of the therapeutic effectiveness of these agents.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

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Efficacy of CT in the diagnosis of vascular dementia.

The records of 27 consecutive patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) of the head after referral for the evaluation of dementia were reviewed to evaluate the utility of CT in the differentiation of multiinfarct dementia and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type. Using the criteria of focal parenchymal low-attenuation zones and asymmetric tissue loss, CT did not discriminate between patients with vascular dementia and those with degenerative brain disease.

Aged↗