The Early Detection of Brain Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease

Studies of aged animals and aging humans have revealed numerous age — associated decrements in brain functioning. Foremost among behavioral changes are the declines in memory functioning. While animal studies have linked many of these aging changes to brain alterations, very little direct evidence is available for the human. By and large, our current understandings suggest that damage to the hippocampus is at least in part related to these age-related memory changes. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) many of these age-related behavioral changes are markedly exacerbated and there is clear evidence for extensive neuropathological involvement of the hippocampus and associated regions.