Tangle and neuron numbers, but not amyloid load, predict cognitive status in Alzheimer’s disease

To examine the relationship between stereologic estimates of AD-related pathology and severity of cognitive deficits in brain aging.

Previous studies reported substantial contributions of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), amyloid deposits, and neuronal loss to the development of dementia. However, the prediction of cognitive status based on nonstereologic quantification of these measures has led to conflicting results. Such studies have measured densities, rather than absolute numbers, and most do not take into account the potential interaction between the above pathologic hallmarks in a global multivariate analysis.