Biomaterial Database

The overlap between Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: the role of white matter changes. 1998

A Wallin

Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Göteborg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden. anders.wallin@msse

As there is some overlap between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), it can be assumed that some particular features that they have in common are responsible for this overlap. One of the candidates is white matter changes whose presence in variants of the two entities is described in this paper. A common, although much debated, division of AD is into two types, type I usually with early and type II usually with late onset. As to VaD, the division can be based on neuropathological changes and vascular disease mechanisms. In one subtype, 'subcortical white matter dementia', white matter lesions are conspicuous features. The overlap between this subtype and AD type I is small, but the overlap is considerable between the same subcortical subtype and AD type II. In the latter, white matter changes and Alzheimer encephalopathy may interact to produce dementia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000544	Alzheimer Disease	A degenerative disease of the BRAIN characterized by the insidious onset of DEMENTIA. Impairment of MEMORY, judgment, attention span, and problem solving skills are followed by severe APRAXIAS and a global loss of cognitive abilities. The condition primarily occurs after age 60, and is marked pathologically by severe cortical atrophy and the triad of SENILE PLAQUES; NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES; and NEUROPIL THREADS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1049-57)	Acute Confusional Senile Dementia,Alzheimer's Diseases,Dementia, Alzheimer Type,Dementia, Senile,Presenile Alzheimer Dementia,Senile Dementia, Alzheimer Type,Alzheimer Dementia,Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset,Alzheimer Disease, Late Onset,Alzheimer Sclerosis,Alzheimer Syndrome,Alzheimer Type Senile Dementia,Alzheimer's Disease,Alzheimer's Disease, Focal Onset,Alzheimer-Type Dementia (ATD),Dementia, Presenile,Dementia, Primary Senile Degenerative,Early Onset Alzheimer Disease,Familial Alzheimer Disease (FAD),Focal Onset Alzheimer's Disease,Late Onset Alzheimer Disease,Primary Senile Degenerative Dementia,Senile Dementia, Acute Confusional,Alzheimer Dementias,Alzheimer Disease, Familial (FAD),Alzheimer Diseases,Alzheimer Type Dementia,Alzheimer Type Dementia (ATD),Alzheimers Diseases,Dementia, Alzheimer,Dementia, Alzheimer-Type (ATD),Familial Alzheimer Diseases (FAD),Presenile Dementia,Sclerosis, Alzheimer,Senile Dementia
D015140	Dementia, Vascular	An imprecise term referring to dementia associated with CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS, including CEREBRAL INFARCTION (single or multiple), and conditions associated with chronic BRAIN ISCHEMIA. Diffuse, cortical, and subcortical subtypes have been described. (From Gerontol Geriatr 1998 Feb;31(1):36-44)	Arteriosclerotic Dementia,Binswanger Disease,Encephalopathy, Binswanger,Leukoencephalopathy, Subcortical,Subcortical Arteriosclerotic Encephalopathy,Vascular Dementia,Acute Onset Vascular Dementia,Arteriosclerotic Encephalopathy, Subcortical,Binswanger Encephalopathy,Binswanger's Disease,Chronic Progressive Subcortical Encephalopathy,Encephalopathy, Binswanger's,Encephalopathy, Chronic Progressive Subcortical,Encephalopathy, Subcortical Arteriosclerotic,Encephalopathy, Subcortical, Chronic Progressive,Subcortical Encephalopathy, Chronic Progressive,Subcortical Leukoencephalopathy,Subcortical Vascular Dementia,Vascular Dementia, Acute Onset,Arteriosclerotic Dementias,Arteriosclerotic Encephalopathies, Subcortical,Binswanger's Encephalopathy,Binswangers Disease,Dementia, Arteriosclerotic,Dementia, Subcortical Vascular,Dementias, Arteriosclerotic,Dementias, Subcortical Vascular,Dementias, Vascular,Disease, Binswanger,Disease, Binswanger's,Encephalopathies, Subcortical Arteriosclerotic,Encephalopathy, Binswangers,Leukoencephalopathies, Subcortical,Subcortical Arteriosclerotic Encephalopathies,Subcortical Leukoencephalopathies,Subcortical Vascular Dementias,Vascular Dementia, Subcortical,Vascular Dementias,Vascular Dementias, Subcortical