Phases of Aβ-deposition in the human brain and its relevance for the development of AD

The deposition of the amyloid beta protein (Abeta) is a histopathologic hallmark of AD. The regions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) are hierarchically involved in Abeta-deposition.

To clarify whether there is a hierarchical involvement of the regions of the entire brain as well and whether there are differences in the expansion of Abeta-pathology between clinically proven AD cases and nondemented cases with AD-related pathology, the authors investigated 47 brains from demented and nondemented patients with AD-related pathology covering all phases of beta-amyloidosis in the MTL (AbetaMTL phases) and four control brains without any AD-related pathology.