PATHOLOGICAL-CHANGES IN FRONTAL-CORTEX FROM BIOPSY TO AUTOPSY IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

We evaluated the change in density of total senile plaques, plaque sub types, and neurofibrillary tangles, from biopsy to autopsy in left fro ntal cortical sections from four patients with clinically typical Alzh eimer's disease (AD). Comparisons were made on sections stained with m odified Bielschowsky and Thioflavin S. In two cases, comparisons were also made on tissue stained with a monoclonal Alz-50 antibody and an a ntiserum to A beta (beta-amyloid protein). Despite a marked decline in mental status over several years of follow-up clinical evaluations, t here was no consistent significant change in numerical density of plaq ues or tangles among the four cases. However, we did find fewer primit ive plaques in the autopsy specimens. These results from longitudinall y evaluated persons with typical AD suggest that although plaques and tangles may serve as adequate markers of the presence of AD, their num erical density within a single neocortical region may not reflect deme ntia severity. This conclusion supports the results of recent cross-se ctional studies on the progression of pathology among persons with AD.