HUMAN STRIATUM - THE DISTRIBUTION OF NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

The distribution of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques was sur veyed in the striatum of Alzheimer's disease cases. Neurofibrillary ta ngles were present throughout the striatum, but displayed significantl y higher densities in the nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle and ta il of the caudate nucleus. Senile plaques with dense amyloid cores sho wed a similar pattern of distribution. By contrast, non-cored senile p laques were homogeneously distributed in all striatal territories. No tangles and few plaques were observed in the striatum of control cases . These findings suggest that the 'limbic' striatum is preferentially vulnerable to pathology in Alzheimer's disease.