Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 May 15;14(5):e25005.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.25005. eCollection 2022 May.

Alzheimer's Disease and Stroke: A Tangled Neurological Conundrum

Anuradha Gupta  1 , Kamsika Uthayaseelan  2 , Kivonika Uthayaseelan  3 , Monika Kadari  4 , Muhammad Subhan  5 , Nisha Saji Parel  6 , Parimi Vamsi Krishna  7 , Ibrahim Sange  8
Affiliations
Review

Alzheimer's Disease and Stroke: A Tangled Neurological Conundrum

Anuradha Gupta et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

A neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer's disease (AD), is characterized by dementia in which there is an age-related decline in cognition and higher functions. Stroke is a cerebrovascular disorder that frequently presents in old age and is a known risk factor for AD development. However, the association that AD can be a risk factor for stroke is not well-studied. This review article compiled various studies that pointed out the association between stroke development in patients with dementia, particularly AD-related dementia. The pathophysiological progression of stroke in AD cases and the genetic makeup possibly affecting the interrelation between these disorders were analyzed in detail using currently available data and studies. Therapeutic and management modalities already in use for AD were put together, and the possibility of early intervention in such patients benefitting cerebrovascular pathologies, particularly stroke-related, was explored. Prognostic differences between patients of stroke with and without AD were also reviewed, and how appropriate management can reduce the burden on health care settings when both present simultaneously was emphasized.

Keywords: acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; alzheimer's disease; alzheimer’s dementia; apolipoprotein; cerebral amyloid angiopathy (caa); cerebrovascular disorders; hemorrhagic stroke; ischemic stroke; memantine; stroke.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Ibrahim Sange, who is the final author of the article, helped write the conclusion and mentored the authors during writing of the paper. As well, he was involved in editing the manuscript and proofreading it. A basic fee was paid to him for his time and services.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Etiological classification of stroke
Red arrows point out the causes of stroke connected to Alzheimer's disease Image credit: Anuradha Gupta
Figure 2
Figure 2. Pathophysiology of stroke
Image credit: Anuradha Gupta
Figure 3
Figure 3. Risk factors for stroke
Image credit: Anuradha Gupta
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Alzheimer's disease. Soria Lopez JA, González HM, Léger GC. Handb Clin Neurol. 2019;167:231–255. - PubMed
    1. Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study. Ferri CP, Prince M, Brayne C, et al. Lancet. 2005;366:2112–2117. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Pathophysiological subtypes of Alzheimer's disease based on cerebrospinal fluid proteomics. Tijms BM, Gobom J, Reus L, et al. Brain. 2020;143:3776–3792. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Comprehensive review on Alzheimer's disease: Causes and treatment. Breijyeh Z, Karaman R. Molecules. 2020;25 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Modifiable, non-modifiable, and clinical factors associated with progression of Alzheimer's disease. Loeffler DA. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;80:1–27. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources