Micro infarcts are associated with cognitive impairment in neurofibrillary tangle predominant decedents: evidence from the NACC autopsy cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A subset of older adults develops high neurofibrillary tangle burden with minimal amyloid, a biomarker profile consistent with suspected non-Alzheimer's pathophysiology or primary age-related tauopathy. Yet its cognitive correlates are unclear, particularly when vascular neuropathologies coexist. We examined whether vascular neuropathologies are linked to cognitive impairment proximate to death and pre-mortem cognitive decline among decedents with intermediate-to-high Braak stage (III-VI) and absent/low neuritic plaques.

Methods

In 579 autopsied participants from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center cohort (Braak III-VI; CERAD C0-C1), we evaluated arteriolosclerosis, atherosclerosis of the circle of Willis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, gross infarcts/lacun

SUBMITTER: Martinez N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12486553 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature