United States – Researchers from Mayo Clinic in Minnesota have come up with new type of memory loss they have described.
Limbic-predominant amnestic neurodegenerative syndrome or LANS targets the limbic system of the brain that controls the feeling and acting part of the human brain.
The syndrome is similar to Alzheimer’s but not as advanced and is said to have a “better prognosis” although the source is again a press release from the Mayo Clinic.
Study and Diagnostic Criteria
The researchers received data 200 patients from the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Mayo Clinic Study of Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. They also presented concrete diagnostic standards for LANS, namely age, brain scans,-memory loss signs, and biomarkers. The results of the study were presented in the Brain Communications International peer-reviewed scientific publication.
Expert Insights
Dr. David T. Jones, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic and the study’s senior author, noted that his team frequently encounters patients with memory complaints. Previously, LANS could only be diagnosed posthumously through brain tissue examination. Dr. Jones emphasized that the new criteria provide a clear framework for diagnosing and treating LANS.
Distinction from Alzheimer’s
Nick Corriveau-Lecavalier, Ph.D., the study’s first author, explained that LANS and Alzheimer’s disease are distinct. LANS often appears later in life, primarily affecting memory without impacting other cognitive domains, resulting in a better prognosis compared to Alzheimer’s disease.
Implications for Treatment
The researchers hope that these new criteria will enable doctors to develop more personalized treatments for LANS patients, helping them manage their cognitive issues more effectively.
External Perspectives
The Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago senior director of scientific engagement, Rebecca M. Edelmayer, Ph. D. , said of the study. She stressed the need to establish diagnosis and disease. setProgression criteria of various types of dementia. It is acknowledged that biomarkers could in the future provide a solid basis for distinguishing between the dementias, but the present clinical criteria provide physicians with a more suitable way of working with these diseases.
Support and Acknowledgments
Part of the research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.