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Research explores Little-Understood Brain
Disease
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 9, 2011) - The
population of aged persons worldwide is
expanding rapidly, and it is becoming
increasingly clear that there are many
different diseases that affect the minds of
these individuals. Researchers at the
University of Kentucky are breaking new
ground in the ongoing project of identifying
and defining those diseases most likely to
affect an aged population.
Dr.
Peter Nelson of
the University
of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging is
the lead author on a paper soon to be
published in the journalBRAIN;
the paper deals with the little-understood
but serious condition hippocampal sclerosis
(HS-AGING). He is also the recipient of a
newly approved grant from the National
Institutes of Health (NIH)
to conduct a study of HS-AGING genetics.
Many different diseases may produce symptoms
of dementia - defined as cognitive decline
and impaired memory - in aged persons.
Although Alzheimer's disease is probably the
most recognized cause of dementia, HS-AGING
also causes serious cognitive impairment in
older adults. In those who live to a very
advanced age (beyond the age of 95) HS-AGING
is roughly as prevalent as Alzheimer's.
It is important for physicians and
scientists to understand the unique
pathology of HS-AGING, and to be able to
differentiate it from other diseases, as it
is only by making an accurate diagnosis that
clinicians can hope to treat people who
present with signs of cognitive decline.
Nelson, a neuropathologist, analyzed autopsy
data from 1,100 individuals, each with
substantial clinical data available from
before death. The long-term clinical
information was obtained through the University
of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Center,
the Nun
Study and
the Georgia
Centenarian Study (all
autopsies were performed at the University
of Kentucky). The large numbers of patients
and the high quality of the data enabled the
research team to gather new clues about the
prevalence and impact of HS-AGING.
"We and others have shown previously that
HS-AGING has a strong impact on
cognition. The goal of the new study was to
define HS-AGING as a distinct disease
entity," said Nelson.
"There were some surprises. The high
prevalence of HS-AGING in individuals older
than 95 was unexpected. In addition, by
analyzing neuropathological data alongside
clinical data, we were able to determine
that there is a recognizable cognitive
profile for individuals likely to develop
HS-AGING,” said Nelson.
In the future, clinicians may be able to
utilize cognitive tests with increased
accuracy to differentiate a diagnosis of
HS-AGING from a general diagnosis of
cognitive decline. Being able to pinpoint
the cause of cognitive decline may lead to
better and more accurate diagnosis and
treatment of aging individuals who present
with signs of dementia.
“This is an extremely exciting paper
because it provides the largest study of
HS-AGING in the literature to date, by
far. These studies help to define the
cognitive features, pathological features,
and risk factors that correlate with
HS-AGING," said Linda
Van Eldik, director of the
Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and co-author
of the paper.
The next step for Nelson will be to use a
grant from the NIH (through the Alzheimer’s
Disease Genetic Consortium) to study
HS-AGING from a genomic approach.
“We want to show the specific genetic
fingerprint of HS-AGING so that we can begin
to develop ways of better diagnosing and
curing the disease during life”, said
Nelson.
“Our ultimate goal is to prevent or cure
the disease, and a greater understanding of
the disorder at the genetic and biological
levels is critical. Dr. Nelson’s studies are
providing the essential foundation required
for translating the science into new
therapies for the Commonwealth of Kentucky
and well beyond,” summarized Van Eldik.
