Prominent and conspicuous astrocyte atrophy in human sporadic and familial Alzheimer ’s disease

In this study, we report prominent atrophic changes in GFAP and GS astrocytes in the EC of both SAD and FAD characterised by a decrease in area and volume when compared with non-demented control samples (ND). Furthermore, we did not find neither astrocytic loss nor astrocyte proliferation or hypertrophy (gliosis). In contrast with the astrogliosis classically accepted hypothesis, our r esults show a highly marked astrocyte atrophy that could have a major relevance in AD pathological processes being fundamental and key for AD mnesic and cognitive alterations equivalent in both SAD and FAD.
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - Category: Anatomy Source Type: research