PDF herunterladen
CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2023; 81(12): 1070-1076
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1777722
View and Review

The past, present and future of Alzheimer's disease – part 1: the past

O passado, presente e futuro da doença de Alzheimer – parte 1: o passado
Ricardo Nitrini 
1   Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
› Institutsangaben
› Weitere Informationen
Auch verfügbar auf
   Lizenzen und Reprints

Erratum zu diesem Artikel:

ErratumArq Neuropsiquiatr 2024; 82(02): e1-e1
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779607

Abstract

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) was described in 1907, and since then it changed from a relatively rare condition to one of the most prevalent diseases.

Objective To describe the evolution of the notions of dementias and AD, and to investigate the reasons for the increase in scientific interest in AD.

Methods A historical analysis was carried out on knowledge about dementia, the site of mental activity, the relationships between brain diseases and mental activity, and on the advances in research about AD, since its discovery until the publication of the amyloid cascade hypothesis in 1992. A search was carried out in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed) for scientific articles that included the terms dementia or AD over 50 years, from 1972 to 2021.

Results The scientific research on AD increased from 615 papers with the term AD in the first decade (1972-1981), to 100,028 papers in the last decade (2012-2021): an increase of 162.6 times whereas publications with the term dementia increased 28.6 times in the same period. In the 1960s and 1970s, a consensus was reached that AD is responsible for the majority of cases of dementia previously known as senile dementia. In the 1980s, beta-amyloid peptide was identified in the core of the senile plaque, hyperphosphorylated tau protein was found in neurofibrillary tangles, and a mutation was discovered in a hereditary form of AD.

Conclusion The expansion of the concept of AD to include senile dementia, and the discoveries that occurred in the 1980s greatly expanded research in AD.

Resumo

Antecedentes A doença de Alzheimer (DA) foi descrita em 1907 e, desde então, deixou de ser relativamente rara para se tornar uma das doenças mais prevalentes.

Objetivo Descrever a evolução das noções sobre demências e DA e investigar as razões do aumento do interesse científico pela DA.

Métodos Foi realizada uma análise histórica dos conhecimentos sobre demência, o local da atividade mental, as relações entre doenças cerebrais e a atividade mental, e sobre os avanços na pesquisa sobre a DA, desde a sua descoberta até a publicação da hipótese da cascata amiloide em 1992. Foi realizada uma busca na Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina dos Estados Unidos da América (PubMed) por artigos científicos que incluíssem os termos demência ou DA nos 50 anos, de 1972 a 2021.

Resultados A pesquisa científica sobre DA aumentou de 615 artigos com o termo doença de Alzheimer na primeira década (1972-1981), para 100.028 artigos na última década (2012-2021): um aumento de 162,6 vezes enquanto as publicações com o termo demência aumentaram 28,6 vezes no mesmo período. Nas décadas de 1960 e 1970, chegou-se a um consenso de que a DA é responsável pela maioria dos casos de demência, anteriormente conhecida como demência senil. Na década de 1980, o peptídeo beta-amiloide foi identificado no núcleo da placa senil, a proteína tau hiperfosforilada foi encontrada em emaranhados neurofibrilares e uma mutação foi descoberta em uma forma hereditária de DA.

Conclusão A expansão do conceito de DA para incluir a demência senil e as descobertas ocorridas na década de 1980 ampliaram enormemente a pesquisa em DA.

Keywords

History - Alzheimer Disease - Plaque Amyloid - Neurofibrillary Tangles - Amyloid beta-Peptides - Alois Alzheimer - Oskar Fischer - Emil Kraepelin

Palavras-chave

História - Doença de Alzheimer - Placa Amiloide - Emaranhados Neurofibrilares - Peptídeos beta-Amiloides - Alois Alzheimer - Oskar Fischer - Emil Kraepelin


Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 10. Oktober 2023

Angenommen: 21. November 2023

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
29. Dezember 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 

  • References

  • 1 Karenberg A, Förstl H. Dementia in the Greco-Roman world. J Neurol Sci 2006; 244 (1-2): 5-9
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 2 Cicero MT. Cato Maior De Senectude. New York: Cambridge University Press;; 1988
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 3 Gross CG. Aristotle on the brain. Neuroscientist 1995; 1: 245-250
    CrossrefSuche in Google Scholar
  • 4 Quétel C. History of Syphilis. Baltimore:: Johns Hopkins University Press;; 1990: 160-161 .(Translated from the 1986 French edition)
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 5 Kraepelin E. One hundred years of psychiatry. New York: Philosophical Library; 1962. (Translated from the 1917 German edition.) p. 130
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 6 Nitrini R. The cure of one of the most frequent types of dementia: a historical parallel. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2005; 19 (03) 156-158
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 7 Maurer K, Maurer U. Alzheimer: the life of a physician and the career of a disease. New York: Columbia University Press; 2003. (Translated from the 1998 German edition.)
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 8 Alzheimer A. A characteristic disease of the cerebral cortex. Allgemeine Zeitschrift für Psychiatrie un Psychisch-Gerichtliche Medizin,. 1907; 64:146-148. In: Bick K, Amaducci L, Pepeu G. eds. The Early Story of Alzheimer's Disease. Padova: Liviana Press; 1987: 1-3
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 9 Isler R. Neurology and the neurological sciences in the German-speaking countries. In: Finger S, Boller F, Tyler KL. eds. History of neurology. Handbook of clinical neurology; 2010. ;95: 667-689
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 10 Nitrini R. [Neurology as a medical specialty: a historic interpretation] In Portuguese. A Neurologia como Especialidade Médica: Uma Interpretação Histórica. In: Gagliardi R. , Takayanagui, eds. Tratado de Neurologia da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. 2ª ed,. Rio de Janeiro: Elsevier; 2019: 12-16
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 11 Merritt HH, Adams RD, Solomon HC. Neurosyphilis. New York: Oxford University Press; 1946: 176
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 12 Hippius H, Neundörfer G. The discovery of Alzheimer's disease. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 2003; 5 (01) 101-108
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 13 Pérez-Trullén JM. A brief biography of Alois Alzheimer. Neurosci Hist 2013; 1 (03) 125-136
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 14 Gomes MDM. Franz Nissl (1860-1919), noted neuropsychiatrist and neuropathologist, staining the neuron, but not limiting it. Dement Neuropsychol 2019; 13 (03) 352-355
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 15 Teive HAG, Tensini FS, Lima PG, Camargo CHF. Constantin von Economós 90th death anniversary. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2021; 79 (11) 1039-1042
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 16 Pepeu G. Introduction. In In: Bick K, Amaducci L, Pepeu G. eds. The Early Story of Alzheimer's Disease. Padova: Liviana Press; 1987
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 17 Neubuerger KT. The history of neuropathology. In: Minckler J. ed. The Pathology of the Nervous System. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1968: 1-14
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 18 Kraepelin E. Senile and Pre-Senile Dementias. In: Bick K, Amaducci L, Pepeu G. eds. The Early Story of Alzheimer's Disease. Padova: Liviana Press; 1987: 32-81 , p. 77 (Translated from the 1910 German edition of Ein Lehrbuch für Studierende und Ärzte)
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 19 Luria AR. The Working Brain: An Introduction to Neuropsychology. London: Penguin Books; 1973
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 20 Luria AR. Higher Cortical Functions in Man. New York:: Basic Books; 1973
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 21 Geschwind N. Disconnexion syndromes in animals and man. I. Brain 1965; 88 (02) 237-294
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 22 Geschwind N. Disconnexion syndromes in animals and man. II. Brain 1965; 88 (03) 585-644
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 23 Lefèvre BH, Nitrini R. [Neuropsychological semiology]. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 1985; 43 (02) 119-132 . Portuguese. Doi: 10.1590/s0004-282. Doi:  × 1985000200001. PMID: 4062596
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 24 Mesulam M-M. Principles of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology. Philadelphia: Davis; 1985
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 25 Mesulam M-M. Principles of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford Universuty Press; 2000
    CrossrefSuche in Google Scholar
  • 26 Mesulam MM, Rogalski EJ, Wieneke C. et al. Primary progressive aphasia and the evolving neurology of the language network. Nat Rev Neurol 2014; 10 (10) 554-569
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 27 Miller B, Llibre Guerra JJ. Frontotemporal dementia. Handb Clin Neurol 2019; 165: 33-45
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 28 Grossman M, Seeley WW, Boxer AL. et al. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9 (01) 40
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 29 Nitrini R. Elementary motor perseveration in early diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 1987; 45 (01) 29-32 . Doi: 10.1590/s0004-282. Doi:  × 1987000100004
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 30 Dubois B, Slachevsky A, Pillon B, Beato R, Villalponda JM, Litvan I. “Applause sign” helps to discriminate PSP from FTD and PD. Neurology 2005; 64 (12) 2132-2133
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 31 Delay J, Brion S. Les Démences Tardives. Paris:: Masson; 1962
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 32 Newton RD. The identity of Alzheimer's disease and sinile dementia and their relationship to senility. J Ment Sci 1948; 94 (395) 225-249
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 33 Neumann MA, Cohn R. Incidence of Alzheimer's disease in large mental hospital; relation to senile psychosis and psychosis with cerebral arteriosclerosis. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry 1953; 69 (05) 615-636
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 34 Roth M, Tomlinson BE, Blessed G. Correlation between scores for dementia and counts of 'senile plaques' in cerebral grey matter of elderly subjects. Nature 1966; 209 (5018) 109-110
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 35 Hachinski VC, Lassen NA, Marshall J. Multi-infarct dementia. A cause of mental deterioration in the elderly. Lancet 1974; 2 (7874) 207-210
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 36 Katzman R. The prevalence and malignancy of Alzheimer disease: a major killer. Alzheimers Dement 2008; 4 (06) 378-380
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 37 Goedert M. Oskar Fischer and the study of dementia. Brain 2009; 132 (Pt 4(: 1102-1111
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 38 Amaducci LA, Rocca WA, Schoenberg BS. Origin of the distinction between Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia: how history can clarify nosology. Neurology 1986; 36 (11) 1497-1499
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 39 Fischer O. Miliary necrosis with nodular proliferation of the neurofibrils, a common change of the cerebral cortex in senile dementia. Monatsschrift für Psychiatrie und Neurologie. 2007. ;22:361-372. In Bick K, Amaducci L, Pepeu G. eds. The Early Story of Alzheimer's Disease. Padova: Liviana Press; 1987: 5-18
    Suche in Google Scholar
  • 40 Allsop D, Landon M, Kidd M. The isolation and amino acid composition of senile plaque core protein. Brain Res 1983; 259 (02) 348-352
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 41 Glenner GG, Wong CW. Alzheimer's disease: initial report of the purification and characterization of a novel cerebrovascular amyloid protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1984; 120 (03) 885-890
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 42 Glenner GG, Wong CW. Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome: sharing of a unique cerebrovascular amyloid fibril protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1984; 122 (03) 1131-1135
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 43 Masters CL, Simms G, Weinman NA, Multhaup G, McDonald BL, Beyreuther K. Amyloid plaque core protein in Alzheimer disease and Down syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1985; 82 (12) 4245-4249 . PMID: 3159021; PMCID: PMC397973.Allsop et al., 1983;
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 44 St George-Hyslop PH, Tanzi RE, Polinsky RJ. et al. The genetic defect causing familial Alzheimer's disease maps on chromosome 21. Science 1987; 235 (4791) 885-890
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 45 Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K, Quinlan M, Tung YC, Zaidi MS, Wisniewski HM. Microtubule-associated protein tau. A component of Alzheimer paired helical filaments. J Biol Chem 1986; 261 (13) 6084-6089
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 46 Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K, Tung YC, Quinlan M, Wisniewski HM, Binder LI. Abnormal phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau (tau) in Alzheimer cytoskeletal pathology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1986; 83 (13) 4913-4917
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 47 Terry RD, Davies P. Dementia of the Alzheimer type. Annu Rev Neurosci 1980; 3: 77-95
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 48 Selkoe DJ. Aging, amyloid, and Alzheimer's disease. N Engl J Med 1989; 320 (22) 1484-1487
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 49 de Paula VJR, Guimarães FM, Diniz BS, Forlenza OV. Neurobiological pathways to Alzheimer's disease: Amyloid-beta, TAU protein or both?. Dement Neuropsychol 2009; 3 (03) 188-194
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar
  • 50 Hardy JA, Higgins GA. Alzheimer's disease: the amyloid cascade hypothesis. Science 1992; 256 (5054) 184-185
    CrossrefPubMedSuche in Google Scholar