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Neurofibrillary tangles in chronic alcoholics

K M Cullen1, G M Halliday

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Australia.

Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology
|August 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Chronic alcoholism and thiamine deficiency cause neurodegeneration in the nucleus basalis. This brain region shows neurofibrillary tangles, suggesting a mechanism for cell death in alcoholics.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuropathology

Background:

  • Magnocellular neurons in the nucleus basalis are vulnerable in chronic alcoholism.
  • Neurodegeneration mechanisms in thiamine-deficient alcoholics are not fully understood.
  • Neurofibrillary degeneration is observed in various dementia-related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism of cell death in the nucleus basalis of thiamine-deficient chronic alcoholics.
  • To screen for neurofibrillary pathology in specific brain regions.

Main Methods:

  • Post-mortem examination of brain tissue from thiamine-deficient chronic alcoholics, asymptomatic chronic alcoholics, and age-matched controls.
  • Utilized tau-immunohistochemistry and modified Bielschowsky silver stain to detect neurofibrillary pathology.

Main Results:

  • Neurofibrillary pathology was exclusively found in the nucleus basalis of chronic alcoholics with thiamine deficiency.
  • Neurofibrillary tangles were infrequent in alcoholics without thiamine deficiency and absent in controls.
  • The highest density of neurofibrillary tangles correlated with cell loss in the nucleus basalis.

Conclusions:

  • Neurodegeneration of the nucleus basalis in chronic alcoholics with thiamine deficiency involves the formation of neurofibrillary tangles.
  • This study identifies a specific pathological pathway in alcohol-related brain damage.

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