Many individuals at the end of life have a have a pattern of protein deposits in the brain associated with memory loss called limbic-predominant age – related TTP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change or late LATE-NC.
These neuropathologic findings are often, but not always, observed in combination with Alzheimer’s disease brain changes and supports the designation of LATE as its own type of amnestic dementia.
Deposits of transactive response DNA-binding proteins 43, or TDP-43, that progresses from the amygdala to the hippocampus to the middle frontal gyrus of the brain are the hallmarks of LATE neuropathology.
These deposits are often found in Alzheimer’s disease and the buildup of TDP–43 is associated with memory loss.
About 15% of the more than 6000 elderly individuals that underwent autopsy had early stage LATE –NC which was not associated with cognitive symptoms, while 25% had late stage LATE-NC which has been linked with cognitive impairment.
Lead-NC was present in almost 40% of the more than 6000 individuals with advanced age who donated their brains after death.
About 53% of patients with Alzheimer disease pathology had LATE-NC as well.
About 27% of patients without any Alzheimer disease pathology also had Late-NC.
TDP pathology is associated with more than 20 different neuropathic conditions.