Contribution to clinical pathology of progressive supranuclear palsy (subcortical argyrophilic dystrophy): On the distribution of neurofibrillary tangles in the basal ganglia and brain-stem and its clinical significance

Abstract

A new case of progressive supranuclear palsy is reported, and the pathological findings in 2 cases of this disease are compared. We consider the marked accentuation of argyrophilic dystrophy (neurofibrillary tangles) in the basal ganglia and the brain-stem to be the basic lesion of this disease and in our view atrophy is a secondary phenomenon. The presence of numerous neurofibrillary tangles in the brain-stem reticular formation is considered to be responsible for dementia of a mild or moderate degree, often accompanied by night delirium and confusion.