What is the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

Alzheimer’s and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) are two associated conditions that affect the brain. Although cerebral amyloid angiopathy is recognized as a major contributor to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), these conditions occur due to different etiologies.

The key difference between Alzheimer’s and cerebral amyloid angiopathy is their etiologies. Alzheimer’s  is a condition that is due to the accumulation of both amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the parenchyma of the brain while cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a condition due to the buildup of abnormal protein called amyloid beta-peptide in small and medium-sized arteries in the brain.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Alzheimer’s  
3. What is Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
4. Similarities – Alzheimer’s and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
5. Alzheimer’s vs Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Alzheimer’s vs Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
7. FAQ – Alzheimer’s and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition that causes a progressive decline in memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills due to an accumulation of both amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. The general symptoms of this condition may include a gradual decline in memory, reasoning and handling of complex tasks, language, understanding visual form and space relationships, and behavior and personality. The risk factors for this condition may include having a form of a gene called APOE gene, having a first-degree relative, and having trisomy (Down syndrome).

Alzheimer’s disease can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation, neurological examination, blood tests, and imaging scans such as CT scans and PET scans. Furthermore, treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease may include cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA antagonists, aducanumab, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, anticonvulsant drugs, and antipsychotics.

What is Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy?

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a brain condition due to the buildup of amyloid beta peptide in small and medium-sized arteries in the brain and in pial blood vessels on the surface of the brain. The symptoms of cerebral amyloid angiopathy may include drowsiness, headache, nervous system changes, seizures, stupor or coma, vomiting, episodes of confusion, loss of mental function (dementia), weakness, or unusual sensations that come and go and involve smaller areas. The risk factors for this condition are increasing age (often seen in people older than 55) and family history.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy can be diagnosed through physical examination, CT scan, MRI scan, MRA scan, and PET scan. Furthermore, treatment options for cerebral amyloid angiopathy may include physical, occupational, or speech therapy for weakness or clumsiness, medicines that help improve memory, and antiseizure medications.

Similarities Between Alzheimer’s and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

1. Alzheimer’s and cerebral amyloid angiopathy are two associated brain conditions.
2. In both conditions, amyloid proteins build up in the brain.
3. Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging testing.
4. They can be treated through memory-improving drugs and anti-seizure medication.

Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

Definition

1. Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition that causes a progressive decline in memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills due to the buildup of both amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the parenchyma of the brain.
2. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a brain condition due to the buildup of amyloid beta peptide in small and medium-sized arteries in the brain and in pial blood vessels on the surface of the brain.

Symptoms

1. Alzheimer’s disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory, reasoning, handling of complex tasks, language, and understanding of visual form and space relationships, as well as changes in behavior and personality.
2. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy symptoms may include drowsiness, headaches, nervous system changes, seizures, stupor or coma, vomiting, episodes of confusion, loss of mental function (dementia), weakness, or unusual sensations that come and go, and may involve smaller areas.

Risk Factors

1. Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease include having a form of the APOE gene, having a first-degree relative with the disease, and having trisomy (Down syndrome).
2. Risk factors for cerebral amyloid angiopathy include increasing age (often seen in people older than 55) and family history.

Diagnosis

1. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease involves physical symptom evaluation, neurological examination, blood tests, and imaging scans such as CT scans and PET scans.
2. For cerebral amyloid angiopathy, diagnosis includes a physical examination, CT scan, MRI scan, MRA scan, and PET scan.

Treatment

1. Treatment for Alzheimer’s disease may involve cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA antagonists, aducanumab (in some cases), antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, anticonvulsant drugs, and antipsychotics.
2. In contrast, treatment for cerebral amyloid angiopathy may include physical, occupational, or speech therapy for weakness or clumsiness, medications to improve memory, and antiseizure medications.

The infographic below presents the differences between Alzheimer’s and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Alzheimer’s vs Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

Alzheimer’s and cerebral amyloid angiopathy are two associated brain conditions. Alzheimer’s is a condition that is due to the accumulation of both amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the parenchyma of the brain. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a condition due to the buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid beta-peptide in small and medium-sized arteries in the brain. Thus, this summarizes the difference between Alzheimer’s and cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

FAQ: Alzheimer’s and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

1. What causes amyloid in the brain?

• The cholesterol accumulation normally increases amyloid beta production and, in turn, fuels plaque accumulation. In brain conditions like cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Alzheimer’s, neurons lose their ability to regulate amyloid beta, and the result is plaque formation.

2. What are the symptoms of cerebral amyloid angiopathy?

• The general symptoms of cerebral amyloid angiopathy are drowsiness, headache, nervous system changes that may start sudden seizures, stupor or coma, and vomiting.

3. What is Alzheimer’s caused by?

• Alzheimer’s is caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins (amyloid plaques and tau proteins) around the brain cells. Amyloid deposits in the form of plaques around brain cells, whereas tau protein deposits in the form of tangles within brain cells.

4. What happens in Alzheimer’s and cerebral amyloid angiopathy?

• Cerebral amyloid angiopathy involves posterior-dominant beta-amyloid deposition in vasculature. Alzheimer’s involves the deposition of both beta-amyloid proteins and tau proteins that present with cognitive impairment.

5. Can Alzheimer’s be cured?

• There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are medicines such as cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA antagonists, aducanumab, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, anticonvulsant drugs and antipsychotics available that can be used to reduce the symptoms temporarily. Support is also available to help someone with the condition and their family cope with everyday life.

Reference:

1. “What Is Alzheimer’s?” Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.

2. “Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.” Science Direct.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Alzheimers flyer” By Leveled eggs – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Cerebral amyloid angiopathy – intermed mag” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia