AAIC 2021 | AD pathology isn’t always associated with memory loss

The defining lesions of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques, topically manifesting clinically as gradual memory loss and subsequent cognitive decline. However, not all cases of memory loss are associated with AD pathology, and AD pathology is not always linked to memory loss as the presenting symptom. Lea Grinberg, MD, PhD, Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, discusses how atypical AD cases differ from typical AD. For example, some patients with AD pathology may present with language, navigation, or behavioral problems. Dr Grinberg explains the importance of this in teaching us about how the disease gets into the brain, how it progresses, and how this is helpful in determining treatments for AD. This interview took place during the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2021.