It has long been thought that the human cerebellum, the small structure at the back of the brain, is not affected in Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle now report that a study of patients with Alzheimer’s found atrophy in a layer of cells crucial to cerebellar function.
The granular layer is composed of small, densely packed cells. These granule cells receive signals from many parts of the brain, process them and relay those signals to other areas of the cerebellum.
“We found that there was atrophy of the granular layer in patients with dementia, and that this atrophy was more pronounced in those with more advanced dementia,” said Dr. Erik Carlson, UW associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
