STAINING OF AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN TO STUDY AXONAL DAMAGE IN MILD HEAD-INJURY

The most common definition of cerebral concussion is that of a transie nt loss of neurological function without macroscopic or microscopic ab normality in the brain. However, some patients have persistent symptom s and subtle neuropsychological deficits, particularly affecting memor y. We have studied five patients aged 59-89 years who sustained mild c oncussive head injury and died of other causes (2-99 days post-injury) . Immunostaining with an antibody to amyloid precursor protein, a mark er oi fast axonal transport, showed multifocal axonal injury in all fi ve. All had axonal damage in the fornices, which are important in memo ry function.