National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association guidelines for the neuropathologic assessment of Alzheimer's disease: a practical approach
Thomas J Montine, Creighton H Phelps, Thomas G Beach, Eileen H Bigio, Nigel J Cairns, Dennis W Dickson, Charles Duyckaerts, Matthew P Frosch, Eliezer Masliah, Suzanne S Mirra, Peter T Nelson, Julie A Schneider, Dietmar Rudolf Thal, John Q Trojanowski, Harry V Vinters, Bradley T Hyman, National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s Association, Thomas J Montine, Creighton H Phelps, Thomas G Beach, Eileen H Bigio, Nigel J Cairns, Dennis W Dickson, Charles Duyckaerts, Matthew P Frosch, Eliezer Masliah, Suzanne S Mirra, Peter T Nelson, Julie A Schneider, Dietmar Rudolf Thal, John Q Trojanowski, Harry V Vinters, Bradley T Hyman, National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s Association
Abstract
We present a practical guide for the implementation of recently revised National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association guidelines for the neuropathologic assessment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Major revisions from previous consensus criteria are: (1) recognition that AD neuropathologic changes may occur in the apparent absence of cognitive impairment, (2) an "ABC" score for AD neuropathologic change that incorporates histopathologic assessments of amyloid β deposits (A), staging of neurofibrillary tangles (B), and scoring of neuritic plaques (C), and (3) more detailed approaches for assessing commonly co-morbid conditions such as Lewy body disease, vascular brain injury, hippocampal sclerosis, and TAR DNA binding protein (TDP)-43 immunoreactive inclusions. Recommendations also are made for the minimum sampling of brain, preferred staining methods with acceptable alternatives, reporting of results, and clinico-pathologic correlations.
Figures
Source: PubMed