Rare study reveals a striking divide inside an Alzheimer’s patient’s brain

An unusually detailed examination of an Alzheimer's patient's brain has revealed striking differences between regions where treatment successfully removed harmful amyloid plaques and areas where those plaques remained. The regions cleared of amyloid showed little or no buildup of tau tangles, another protein abnormality strongly associated with brain cell damage and declining memory. Nearby areas that still contained amyloid, however, showed much higher levels of tau and evidence of continued neurodegeneration.

The discovery offers rare evidence from a human brain that removing amyloid plaques may provide protection against other damaging processes involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The results also suggest that clearing amyloid thoroughly, particularly early in the disease, could help limit tau accumulation and slow the progression of brain damage.