Question

_____ are long, wavy filaments that replace normal neurons and are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

a) Neurofibrillary plaques
b) Senile plaques
c) Neurofibrillary tangles
d) Senile tangles

Answer 1

Neurofibrillary tangles are the long, wavy filaments that replace normal neurons in Alzheimer's disease, composed of tau protein, and lead to neuronal dysfunction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Long, wavy filaments that replace normal neurons and are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease are called neurofibrillary tangles. These tangled bundles of protein fibers are composed of misshapen tau protein and are found within certain brain cells. In contrast, amyloid plaques are abnormal clumps of proteins that form between brain cells in Alzheimer's disease. Both neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques contribute to the loss of connections between neurons, leading to neuronal death and a shrunken brain, typical in advanced Alzheimer's disease.