National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association guidelines for the neuropathologic assessment of Alzheimer's disease: a practical approach

Acta Neuropathol. 2012 Jan;123(1):1-11. doi: 10.1007/s00401-011-0910-3. Epub 2011 Nov 20.

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.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / classification
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / pathology
  • Cerebrovascular Trauma / classification
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lewy Body Disease / classification
  • Lewy Body Disease / pathology
  • National Institute on Aging (U.S.)
  • Sclerosis / classification
  • United States

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins

Grants and funding