Final answer:
Alzheimer's disease leads to neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques in the brain, causing synaptic loss, neuron death, and brain shrinkage, especially in the hippocampus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pathological brain structures that are the result of Alzheimer's disease are neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques, which are clumps of misfolded proteins that form between neurons, and neurofibrillary tangles, which consist of twisted strands of a protein called tau within brain cells. These hallmark characteristics of the disease lead to the loss of synapses, the death of neurons, and severe shrinkage of the brain, especially in the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to severe cognitive decline and dementia