New Alzheimer's-Related Memory Disorder Discovered

Recent findings published in the current issue of Acta Neuropathologica show what may be a disease that's very closely related to dementia. Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging believe that their new findings very closely resemble primary age-related tauopathy (PART).

"To make an Alzheimer's diagnosis you need to see two things together in a patient's brain: amyloid plaques and structures called neurofibrillary tangles composed of a protein called tau," said Dr. Nelson, a professor of neuropathology at the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, in a news release. "However, autopsy studies have demonstrated that some patients have tangles but no plaques and we've long wondered what condition these patients had."

Those suffering from PART often develop cognitive impairments that can be indistinguishable from Alzheimer's disease as they lack amyloid plaques.

Yet more awareness of the neurological disease can help doctors to properly diagnosis and treat it early on, potentially preventing further memory impairment.

"Until now, PART has been difficult to treat or even study because of lack of well-defined criteria," said Dr. Nelson. "Now that the scientific community has come to a consensus on what the key features of PART are, this will help doctors diagnose different forms of memory impairment early. These advancements will have a big impact on our ability to recognize and develop effective treatments for brain diseases seen in older persons."