MDLinxScientists Define New Type of Memory Loss in Older Adults

TDP-43 Protein Buildup in Limbic System May Contribute to Newly Defined Memory Loss Syndrome

Mayo Clinic researchers have established criteria for a new memory loss syndrome in older adults called Limbic-predominant Amnestic Neurodegenerative Syndrome (LANS). This condition affects the brain’s limbic system and can be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease. The newly defined criteria allow for diagnosis in living patients, potentially leading to more accurate prognoses and tailored treatments.

Key Points:

• LANS is a memory-loss syndrome distinct from Alzheimer’s disease
• The condition progresses more slowly and has a better prognosis than Alzheimer’s
• New clinical criteria published in Brain Communications enable diagnosis in living patients
• Criteria consider factors such as age, severity of memory impairment, brain scans, and biomarkers
• Data from more than 200 participants were used to develop and validate the criteria
• LANS may be associated with limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE)
• Symptoms are often restricted to memory and may not progress to other cognitive domains
• The syndrome typically occurs later in life compared to Alzheimer’s disease
• Diagnosis of LANS can lead to better symptom management and more targeted therapies
• The framework allows for differentiation from Alzheimer’s, impacting treatment decisions
• Implications include guidance on amyloid-lowering drugs, clinical trials, and genetic counseling
• Research builds on ongoing efforts to classify different types of dementia
• Further research is needed to fully understand the causes and characteristics of LANS

“Historically, you might see someone in their 80s with memory problems and think they may have Alzheimer’s disease, and that is often how it’s being thought of today. With this paper, we are describing a different syndrome that happens much later in life. Often, the symptoms are restricted to memory and will not progress to impact other cognitive domains, so the prognosis is better than with Alzheimer’s disease.”
– Nick Corriveau-Lecavalier, PhD, the paper’s first author

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