Overview
LATE involves TDP-43 protein deposits affecting memory regions of the brain. It frequently coexists with Alzheimer's changes.
Common symptoms
- Prominent memory loss
- Slower progression than typical Alzheimer's disease in many people
- Onset usually in the 80s or later
How it progresses
Often slower than Alzheimer's disease, though the two frequently occur together.
How it is diagnosed
Suspected clinically when memory loss occurs at advanced age with negative Alzheimer's biomarkers; definitive diagnosis is currently made only at autopsy.
Treatment
Symptomatic care. Amyloid-targeting therapy is not appropriate when Alzheimer's pathology is absent.
What families should know
- A negative amyloid test does not mean the memory loss is imaginary
- Care planning is the same as for other dementias
Questions to ask your doctor
- Do the biomarker results fit Alzheimer's disease?
- How does this change what we should expect?
Medically reviewed. Last reviewed August 2026. This page is educational information, not individualized medical advice.