Abstract
Significant densities of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) often occur in regions of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To investigate the spatial fluctuations of NFT in these regions, variations in the density of Gallyas-stained NFT were recorded in 'transects' of contiguous sample fields aligned parallel with the tissue boundary. Fourier (spectral) analysis was used to analyse the fluctuations in density of NFT and to interpret them in relation to the underlying neuroanatomy. The Fourier analysis suggested that NFT exhibited complex sinusoidal fluctuations in density in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in AD. The fluctuations occurred at different scales, the most common pattern being asmall-scale sinusoidal fluctuation repeating every 500-1000 mm and alarger-scale pattern repeating at distances greater than 1000 mm. These fluctuations in density may reflect the association of NFT with the modular structure of the cortex and hippocampus. Fourier analysis may be auseful statistical method for studying the patterns of NFT and other abundant cellular inclusions in neurodegenerative disease.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
