Neuropathological analysis of multiple system atrophy with cognitive impairment

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25430048
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Tada Mari 新潟大学, 脳研究所, 助教 (30646394)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SHIMOHATA Takayoshi 新潟大学, 脳研究所, 准教授 (60361911) ; NISHIZAWA Masatoyo 新潟大学, 脳研究所, 教授 (80198457) ; TAKAHASHI Hitoshi 新潟大学, 脳研究所, 教授 (90206839)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 多系統萎縮症 / 神経変性疾患 / 認知機能障害 / 神経病理学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Among 49 pathologically proven multiple system atrophy (MSA) cases, 12 cases developed cognitive decline (CD) in their disease course. There was no significant difference of age between cases with or without CD. The disease duration of cases with CD was variable (3-19 years). 50 % of these cases survived over 10 years after the disease onset. Quantitative analyses revealed that the density of neurons in the caudate head, but not in the frontal cortex and putamen, was lower in cases with CD than in cases without CD. There was no difference in the density of neuron nor glia withα-synuclein inclusions between cases with and without CD. These results suggested that degeneration of the caudate head could result in the dysfunction of the cortico-basal ganglia loop and influence in cognitive decline in MSA cases with long disease duration.

Free Research Field

神経病理学