PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

 progressive degeneration and atrophy of brain. 

The brain of patients with alzheimer’s has 3 distinguishing features

Neurofibrillatory tangles (fibrous protein)

Amyloid plaques (composed of degenerating axons and dendrites)

Granulovacuolar degeneration(fibrous protein)

Normal brain weighs 1,380 g

>autopsy of alzheimers brain
>reveals brain atrophy
>weighs 1,000 g or less (fibrous protein)