Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by several histological features. Shown here is a stain for the beta-amyloid protein. Note the presence of neuritic plaques that form from aggregation of beta-amyloid protein. Some plaques contain a dense central core of amyloid and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is based partially on the density of the plaques. The beta-amyloid aggregates are neurotoxic, and the neurons affected are typically those that make up the cholinergic system. Because of this, inhibitors of acteylcholinesterase are used to maximize the activity of the acetylcholine that remains.