Characterization of cerebellar amyloid-β deposits in Alzheimer disease

Cerebellar amyloid-beta (A beta) plaques are a component of the diagnostic criteria used in Thal staging and ABC scoring for Alzheimer disease (AD) neuropathologic change. However, A beta deposits in this anatomic compartment are unique and under-characterized; and their relationship with other pathological findings are largely undefined. In 73 cases of pure or mixed AD with an A3 score in the ABC criteria, parenchymal (plaques) and vascular (cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA]) cerebellar A beta-42 deposits were characterized with respect to localization, morphology, density, and intensity. Over 85% of cases demonstrated cerebellar A beta-42 parenchymal staining that correlated with a Braak stage V-VI/B3 score (p < 0.01). Among the 63 with cerebellar A beta-42 deposits, a diffuse morphology was observed in 75% of cases, compact without a central dense core in 32%, and compact with a central dense core in 16% (all corresponding to plaques evident on hematoxylin and eosin staining). Cases with Purkinje cell (PC) loss showed higher proportions of PC layer A beta-42 staining than cases without PC loss (88% vs 44%, p = 0.02), suggesting a link between A beta-42 deposition and PC damage. Among all 73 cases, CAA was observed in the parenchymal vessels of 19% of cases and in leptomeningeal vessels in 44% of cases.

Automated summary

Cerebellar amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques in Alzheimer's disease are under-characterized and their relationship with other pathological findings is largely undefined. This study characterizes the deposition of Aβ-42 in the cerebellum and its association with Purkinje cell loss. The findings suggest a link between Aβ deposition and cerebellar damage in Alzheimer's disease.