23. Senile plaques and neurofibrillar degeneration: Difference between revisions

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'''Theory''':
'''Theory''':


Alzheimer’s disease most commonly affects the hippocampus first, and then the frontal and temporal lobes before it becomes a diffuse process.
Alzheimer’s disease most commonly affects the hippocampus first, and then the frontal and temporal lobes before it becomes a diffuse process. This slide is overstained, so the characteristic findings are therefore hard to distinguish from background noise.[[File:Alzheimer - NFTs.png|thumb|These nerve cell bodies are stained black as they contain neurofibrillary tangles|left]]
 
This slide is overstained, so the characteristic findings are therefore hard to distinguish from background noise.
[[File:Alzheimer - NFTs.png|thumb|These nerve cell bodies are stained black as they contain neurofibrillary tangles|left]]
[[Category:Pathology 2 - Histopathology slides]]
[[Category:Pathology 2 - Histopathology slides]]

Revision as of 14:08, 7 July 2024

Overview

Staining: Silver stain (Bielschowsky)

Organ: Brain, hippocampus

Description: The hippocampus is visible and that’s where the characteristic findings are visible on this slide.

Senile plaques are extracellular deposits of β-amyloid that are surrounded by silver-positive proteins. The amyloids themselves aren’t stained by silver and are therefore pale. These plaques are therefore visible as large black foci with a pale core. Neurofibrillary tangles are intracellular bundles of hyperphosphorylated tau. These tangles are stained by silver and causes the neurons to be stained black.

Diagnosis: Alzheimer disease (senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles)

Senile plaques and amyloid cores

Risk factors:

  • Genetic factors
  • Down syndrome
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Old age

Theory:

Alzheimer’s disease most commonly affects the hippocampus first, and then the frontal and temporal lobes before it becomes a diffuse process. This slide is overstained, so the characteristic findings are therefore hard to distinguish from background noise.

These nerve cell bodies are stained black as they contain neurofibrillary tangles