LATE-onset dementia classified

Wednesday May 1st, 2019

A form of late-onset dementia has been identified by scientists linked to a specific protein, it has been announced.

US researchers have named the disease, LATE - Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy.

The published new diagnostic criteria last night for the newly classified form of dementia.

The new classification is based on research linking the protein TDP-43 to many cases of late-onset dementia with similar symptoms to Alzheimer's disease but no evidence of amyloid or tau clusters in the brain.

The proposals for the new disease was published last night in Brain.

Dr Nina Silverberg, director of the US National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's disease Centres Program, said: "Recent research and clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease have taught us two things: First, not all of the people we thought had Alzheimer's have it; second, it is very important to understand the other contributors to dementia."

Nelson PT, et al. Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE): consensus working group report. Brain 30 April 2019; doi: 10.1093/brain/awz099

Tags: Brain & Neurology | Elderly Health | North America

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