Limbic-Predominant Age-Related Tdp-43 Encephalopathy

Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, is a proposed diagnosis for a form of dementia. It is defined by a buildup of misfolded TDP-43 protein in the brain, especially the limbic system, typically in patients over 85 years. LATE is suspected to be present in about a quarter of people over 85, and is often comorbid with other forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. TDP-43 is also implicated in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diseases. The brains of patients with LATE do not accumulate beta-amyloid or tau proteins as a health functioning brain does. TDP-43 is responsible for the collections of proteins and proper functioning of genes in the cell, the misfolded TDP-43 results in the cell not getting the needed proteins to function properly. The onset of LATE is generally thought to be slower than other types of dementia.