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Neuronal loss and beta-amyloid removal in the amygdala of people with Down syndrome
Weģiel J, Wísniewski HM, Moryś J, Tarnawski M, Kuchna I, Dziewiatkowski J, Pirttilä T, Krivimäki T et al.. Neurobiology of aging, 1999-05-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The decrease in the number of neurons free of neurofibrillary changes, neurons with neurofibrillary degeneration, and the total volume of beta-amyloid (A beta) deposits in the amygdala of people with Down syndrome and in late stages of Alzheimer disease were estimated by using morphometry and regression analysis. This model predicts that the duration of neurofibrillary changes from the pretangle stage to ghost tangles is approximately 4.7 years. The correlation between the decrease in the number of neurons and the decrease in the amount of A beta indicates that amyloid deposition is associated with neurons and that loss of neurons causes decrease in A beta deposition. The presence of neurons only with neurofibrillary tangles, and the absence of the amyloid deposits predicted by regression analysis suggest that neurons with tangles are not engaged in amyloid deposition. The disappearance of amyloid by approximately 2.2 years after loss of neurons free of neurofibrillary changes indicates that A beta deposits are degradable and removable and that even in severely atrophic amygdala, there are mechanisms of amyloid resolution. This study shows that in normal aging in the amygdala, extracellular A beta appears later than neurofibrillary changes.
Key findings
- The correlation between the decrease in the number of neurons and the decrease in the amount of A beta indicates that amyloid deposition is associated with neurons and that loss of neurons causes decrease in A beta deposition.
- The presence of neurons only with neurofibrillary tangles, and the absence of the amyloid deposits predicted by regression analysis suggest that neurons with tangles are not engaged in amyloid deposition.
- The disappearance of amyloid by approximately 2.2 years after loss of neurons free of neurofibrillary changes indicates that A beta deposits are degradable and removable and that even in severely atrophic amygdala, there are mechanisms of amyloid resolution.
Why it matters
This brain tissue study found that loss of neurons was linked to decreased beta-amyloid deposits in the amygdala and that amyloid could disappear about 2.2 years after neuron loss, suggesting the brain can clear amyloid. This is laboratory work on tissue and does not show a treatment or cure.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 34/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurobiology of aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1999 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 23 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.8 citations a year over 29 year(s) since 1999 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Bolesław Lach: h-index 43 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Kuopio University Hospital: institution h-index 529 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 10588573) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 34 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Weģiel, J., Wísniewski, H. M., Moryś, J., Tarnawski, M., Kuchna, I., Dziewiatkowski, J., et al. (1999). Neuronal loss and beta-amyloid removal in the amygdala of people with Down syndrome. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-4580(99)00060-3
Vancouver
Weģiel J, Wísniewski HM, Moryś J, Tarnawski M, Kuchna I, Dziewiatkowski J, et al. Neuronal loss and beta-amyloid removal in the amygdala of people with Down syndrome. Neurobiology of aging. 1999. doi:10.1016/s0197-4580(99)00060-3. PMID: 10588573.
BibTeX
@article{wegiel1999-10588573,
author = {Weģiel, J. and Wísniewski, H. M. and Moryś, J. and Tarnawski, M. and Kuchna, I. and Dziewiatkowski, J. and Pirttilä, T. and Krivimäki, T. and others},
title = {{Neuronal loss and beta-amyloid removal in the amygdala of people with Down syndrome}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {1999},
doi = {10.1016/s0197-4580(99)00060-3},
pmid = {10588573},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-4580(99)00060-3}
}
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