Association of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease: New Entity or Coincidence? A Case Series

J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;84(4):1439-1446. doi: 10.3233/JAD-215226.

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia have a strong clinical, genetic, and pathological connection but association of ALS with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is seldom reported. We report a series of 5 cases of AD associated with ALS. Our patients presented with cognitive deterioration with episodic memory impairment meeting criteria for AD. ALS occurred subsequently in all cases and its phenotype was not homogenous. Amyloid process was confirmed in four cases with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. One case underwent postmortem exam, demonstrating hallmarks lesions of both diseases. This series highlights that ALS-AD phenotype could be a specific underexplored entity.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers; neurodegenerative disorders; neuropathology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology*
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cognition Disorders / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / pathology
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Biomarkers