amyloid plaque

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amyloid plaque

A scientist examines amyloid plaques under a microscope.

Definition

Noun: A deposit or accumulation of an abnormal, insoluble protein called amyloid beta, found in the spaces between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. It is a primary pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and is associated with the disruption of neural communication and cell death.

Usage

This term is used specifically in medical and neurological contexts to describe a physical, microscopic brain lesion. * The autopsy revealed significant amyloid plaque deposits in the patient's cerebral cortex. * Researchers are studying drugs designed to clear amyloid plaque from the brain. * The presence of amyloid plaque is one of the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease.

Advanced Usage
  • Senile plaque: A synonym often used interchangeably with "amyloid plaque," particularly when referring to plaques found in the aging brain associated with dementia.
  • Neuritic plaque: A more specific term for an amyloid plaque that is surrounded by damaged neuronal processes (dendrites and axons). All neuritic plaques contain amyloid, but not all amyloid plaques are neuritic.
Variants and Related Words
  • Amyloid (noun/adjective): Referring to the waxy, starch-like protein substance itself. Can be used as a noun ("the buildup of amyloid") or an adjective ("amyloid deposits").
  • Beta-amyloid or Aβ (noun): The specific peptide (a chain of amino acids) that is the main component of amyloid plaques.
  • Neurofibrillary tangle (noun): Another pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, consisting of twisted fibers of a protein called inside neurons. It is often discussed alongside amyloid plaque.
Synonyms
  • Senile plaque
  • Amyloid-beta plaque
Related Phrases
  • Plaque burden: The total amount or density of amyloid plaque present in a brain.
    • Cognitive decline often correlates with a higher plaque burden.
  • Plaque formation: The biological process by which amyloid plaques develop and accumulate.
    • The study aims to understand the early stages of plaque formation.
amyloid plaque

A scientist examines amyloid plaques under a microscope.

Noun
  1. a plaque consisting of tangles of amyloid protein in nervous tissue (a pathological mark of Alzheimer's disease)

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