Mitochondria and Synaptic Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Stavros J. Baloyannis
Primary Institution: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Hypothesis
Morphological alterations of mitochondria may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Conclusion
The study found significant morphological and morphometric changes in mitochondria in neurons of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Supporting Evidence
- Mitochondrial alterations were prominent in neurons with synaptic pathology.
- Significant reductions in mitochondrial size and shape were observed in Alzheimer's disease brains.
- Pathological alterations of dendritic spines were noted in all layers of the acoustic and visual cortex.
Takeaway
This study looked at brain samples from people with Alzheimer's and found that their mitochondria, which help power cells, were damaged and changed in shape.
Methodology
The study involved electron microscopy and morphometric analysis of brain samples from patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Limitations
The study was limited to postmortem examinations and a small sample size.
Participant Demographics
The participants included 10 patients (4 men and 6 women) aged 62–87 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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