Abstract
The Nun Study was the first cohort study to enroll and follow a large, well-defined population that included demented and non-demented participants, all of whom agreed to donate their brains for research. The inclusion of systematic neuropathologic analysis in this study has resulted in a greater understanding of the role of Alzheimer and vascular pathology in the expression of memory deficits and dementia and has provided data showing that biomarkers for the pathology may be evident many decades earlier in adult life. Findings related to neuropathology in this study have included the following: (1) Although clinical outcomes were strongly correlated with Alzheimer neuropathology, about one-third of the participants fulfilling criteria for neuropathologic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were not demented at the time of death. (2) Brain infarcts by themselves had little effect on cognitive status, but played an important role in increasing the risk of dementia associated with Alzheimer pathology. (3) Hippocampal volume was strongly correlated with Braak neurofibrillary stage even in participants with normal cognitive function. (4) A linguistic characteristic of essays written in early adult life, idea density, had a strong association with not only clinical outcomes in late life, but the severity of Alzheimer neuropathology as well. (5) The effect of apolipoprotein E-e4 on dementia was mediated through Alzheimer, but not vascular pathology.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, brain infarcts, clinical-pathologic correlation, dementia, epidemiologic cohort study, risk factors, apolipoprotein E-e4, autopsy, neuropathologic AD
Current Alzheimer Research
Title:The Nun Study: Risk Factors for Pathology and Clinical-Pathologic Correlations
Volume: 9 Issue: 6
Author(s): James A. Mortimer
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, brain infarcts, clinical-pathologic correlation, dementia, epidemiologic cohort study, risk factors, apolipoprotein E-e4, autopsy, neuropathologic AD
Abstract: The Nun Study was the first cohort study to enroll and follow a large, well-defined population that included demented and non-demented participants, all of whom agreed to donate their brains for research. The inclusion of systematic neuropathologic analysis in this study has resulted in a greater understanding of the role of Alzheimer and vascular pathology in the expression of memory deficits and dementia and has provided data showing that biomarkers for the pathology may be evident many decades earlier in adult life. Findings related to neuropathology in this study have included the following: (1) Although clinical outcomes were strongly correlated with Alzheimer neuropathology, about one-third of the participants fulfilling criteria for neuropathologic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were not demented at the time of death. (2) Brain infarcts by themselves had little effect on cognitive status, but played an important role in increasing the risk of dementia associated with Alzheimer pathology. (3) Hippocampal volume was strongly correlated with Braak neurofibrillary stage even in participants with normal cognitive function. (4) A linguistic characteristic of essays written in early adult life, idea density, had a strong association with not only clinical outcomes in late life, but the severity of Alzheimer neuropathology as well. (5) The effect of apolipoprotein E-e4 on dementia was mediated through Alzheimer, but not vascular pathology.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
A. Mortimer James, The Nun Study: Risk Factors for Pathology and Clinical-Pathologic Correlations, Current Alzheimer Research 2012; 9 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720512801322546
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720512801322546 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New Advances in the Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Alzheimer's Disease
Aims and Scope: Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing prevalence that demands concerted efforts to advance our understanding and strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. This thematic issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from multidisciplinary perspectives to address ...read more
Current updates on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroinflammation is an invariable hallmark of chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders and has long been considered a potential drug target for Alzheimer?s disease (AD) and dementia. Significant evidence of inflammatory processes as a feature of AD is provided by the presence of inflammatory markers in plasma, CSF and postmortem brain ...read more
Deep Learning for Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing number of individuals affected yearly. Deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has shown immense potential in various domains, including healthcare. This thematic issue of Current Alzheimer Research explores the application of deep learning techniques in advancing our ...read more
Diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of dementia
Dementia affects 18 million people worldwide. Dementia is a syndrome of symptoms caused by brain disease, usually chronic or progressive, clinically characterized by multiple impairments of higher cortical functions such as memory, thinking, orientation, and learning. In addition, in the course of dementia, cognitive deficits are observed, which often hinder ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
In Silico Studies of (2E,5E)-2,5-bis(3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-benzylidene) Cyclopentanone on Proteins AChE and BChE Involved in Alzheimers disease and Ameliorative Effects on Paraquat Induced Oxidative Stress Markers in Drosophila melanogaster
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Protein Aggregation and Defective RNA Metabolism as Mechanisms for Motor Neuron Damage
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Enhancing the Delivery of Anti Retroviral Drug “Saquinavir” Across the Blood Brain Barrier Using Nanoparticles
Current HIV Research Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents Neurotrophic Factors - A Tool for Therapeutic Strategies in Neurological,Neuropsychiatric and Neuroimmunological Diseases?
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cannabidiol and Sodium Nitroprusside: Two Novel Neuromodulatory Pharmacological Interventions to Treat and Prevent Psychosis
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Vascular Injury During Elevated Glucose can be Mitigated by Erythropoietin and Wnt Signaling
Current Neurovascular Research Developing Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Frailty
Current Pharmaceutical Design Somatostatin and Cognitive Function in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Insight γ-Secretase: Structure, Function, and Role in Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Drug Targets A Model on the Induction of Adverse Vascular Long-Term Effects of NSAIDs
Medicinal Chemistry Targets of Antidementive Therapy: Drugs with a Specific Pharmacological Mechanism of Action
Current Pharmaceutical Design Activation and Control of CNS Innate Immune Responses in Health and Diseases: A Balancing Act Finely Tuned by Neuroimmune Regulators (NIReg)
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Effect of Drugs in Cells and Tissues by NMR Spectroscopy
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Astroglial Connexins in Neurological and Neuropsychological Disorders and Radiation Exposure
Current Medicinal Chemistry Biosafety of Lentiviral Vectors
Current Gene Therapy Regulation of Angiotensin II Receptor Expression
Current Pharmaceutical Design Tau Silencing by siRNA in the P301S Mouse Model of Tauopathy
Current Gene Therapy Tailored Multi-Target Agents. Applications and Design Considerations
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cellular Pathology in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Distinguishes Schizophrenia from Bipolar Disorder
Current Molecular Medicine