A 70-year-old man has progressive memory loss. Autopsy shows neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular plaques. What is the main component of the plaques?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Beta-amyloid

  1. Step 1: Plaques are made of beta-amyloid. Answer: Beta-amyloid. Why not the others: Tau forms the tangles, alpha-synuclein forms Lewy bodies and prion protein causes spongiform change.

Practise more Pathology.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed USMLE Step 1 mock tests.