What type of plaque is associated with Alzheimer's disease?

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In Alzheimer's disease, several pathological features are observed, among which senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are crucial. Senile plaques are deposits primarily composed of beta-amyloid peptides that accumulate outside of neurons, while neurofibrillary tangles consist of tau protein that becomes hyperphosphorylated and forms twisted fibers within neurons.

Both senile plaques and amyloid plaques refer to the same type of abnormal protein aggregation associated with the disease. When discussing amyloid plaques, it's specifically the beta-amyloid aggregates that are central to the pathology of Alzheimer's. These plaques disrupt cell communication and trigger inflammation, contributing to neurodegeneration.

Since neurofibrillary tangles and senile or amyloid plaques form part of the broader set of pathological findings in Alzheimer's disease, it is indeed correct to assert that all these types of plaques and tangles are associated with the condition. They play critical roles in the progression and symptomatology of Alzheimer's, highlighting the complexity of the disease's mechanisms.

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