The natural and molecular history of Alzheimer’s disease: Tau is part of the story

ABSTRACTIntroduction:The relationship between Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and alcohol addiction is poorly characterized. Arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) can serve as a proxy for alcohol addiction. Therefore, the potential association between DUI and AD could be helpful in understanding the relationship between alcohol abuse and AD.Materials and methods:A retrospective, population-based cohort study using state health and law enforcement data was performed. The study cross-referenced 141,281 South Carolina Alzheimer’s Disease Registry cases with state law enforcement data.Results:Of the 2,882 registry cases (1.4%) found to have a history of at least one DUI arrest, cases were predominantly White (58.7%) and male (77.4%). Results showed a correlation coefficient of 0.7 (p < 0.0001) between the age of first DUI arrest and the age of AD diagnosis. A dose-response relationship between the number of DUIs and age of AD onset was found to exist, where those with a history of DUI arrest were diagnosed an average of 9.1 years earlier, with a further 1.8 years earlier age at diagnosis in those with two or more arrests for DUI. A history of DUI arrest was also found to be negatively associated with survival after diagnosis, with a 10% decreased life expectancy in those with a DUI arrest history.Conclusions:Driving under the influence, a potential indicator of alcohol addiction, is associated with an earlier onset of AD registry diagnosis and shortened survival after diagnosis. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that some cases of AD are alcohol related and, possibly, postponable or preventable.

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The Prevalence of Dementia in the Elderly: A Review

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674379403900503 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 253-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Kenneth Rockwood ◽

Karen Stadnyk

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Age Groups ◽

The Elderly ◽

Community Studies ◽

Prevalence Studies ◽

Clinical Interviews ◽

Dementia Prevalence ◽

History Of ◽

Definition Of

We reviewed the findings of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging in the context of studies published between January 1986 and June 1993 that documented dementia and Alzheimer's disease prevalence. Studies were identified using a MEDLINE literature search. Additional references were selected from the bibliography of identified articles. Most reports of all types of dementia prevalence are within a narrow range for each of the age groups 65+, 75+ and 85+ years. By contrast, two recent reports on the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease have reported much higher estimates (10.3% and 15.3%) in the elderly (65+ years). A variety of threats to both validity and generalizability of the estimates are present in all studies. In community studies which employed clinical interviews most subjects were only mildly affected; the natural history of impairment of this group requires further study if the consequences of these findings are to be understood. There is important variability in the definition of the functional consequences of cognitive impairment in the elderly which affects both the diagnosis and staging of dementia.

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Incipient Alzheimer's Disease as the Underlying Cause of a Motor Vehicle Crash

Medicine Science and the Law ◽

10.1177/002580240204200307 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 233-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kazuhiko Kibayashi ◽

Hideki Shojo

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Senile Plaques ◽

Clinical History ◽

Motor Vehicle Crash ◽

Forensic Autopsy ◽

Vehicle Crash ◽

Single Vehicle ◽

History Of

A 75-year-old female driver died in a single vehicle crash. A forensic autopsy diagnosed the cause of death as blood loss due to laceration of the liver caused by the crash. Although she had neither clinical history of dementia nor gross abnormalities of the brain, neuropathological examinations showed a substantial number of senile plaques indicative of Alzheimer's disease (AD). An interview with a family member revealed that she had symptoms of dementia. Cognitive dysfunction due to AD was proposed as the underlying cause of the crash. It is recommended that forensic autopsy of older drivers should include neuropathological examinations to identify incipient AD. Recognition of AD as an underlying cause of crashes is also important to promote the health care of older people.

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