INCREASED INCIDENCE OF NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES (NFT) IN NONDEMENTED INDIVIDUALS WITH HYPERTENSION

The incidence rates and numerical densities of argryophilic neurofibri llary tangles (NFT) and senile plaques (SP) were determined in non-dem ented individuals and subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The non- AD subjects were grouped according to cardiac status; those individual s with critical coronary artery disease (cCAD), those hypertensive ind ividuals without cCAD (HyperT), and those without heart disease (non-H D). The incidence and densities of SP and NFT were significantly great er in AD than any of the non-demented groups. The prevalence of SP was increased in both HyperT and cCAD compared to non-HD controls, while NFT occurrence was accentuated in non-demented HyperT subjects only. T he densities of SP and NFT in HyperT were elevated compared to cCAD or both cCAD and non-HD controls; NFT densities were similar in cCAD and non-HD. NFT density increased with increasing age in only the non-HD and cCAD groups, suggesting a possible relationship between disease pr ocess and NFT formation in the AD and HyperT populations.