A 57-Year-Old Man Is Hospitalized for Aspiration Pneumonia

A 57-year-old man is hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia.  The patient was healthy and worked as an engineer without difficulty until about 4 months ago.  Since that time, he has developed severe confusion, mood changes, and memory impairment and had to take medical leave from work.  The patient is now completely dependent on his wife for toileting, feeding, and general self-care.  Physical examination shows disorientation and sporadic, jerky extremity movements.  During hospitalization, the patient lapses into a coma and dies.  Postmortem examination of his brain shows widespread atrophy of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum.  Histologic analysis of the patient's brain tissue would most likely show accumulation of which of the following?

A) Alpha-synuclein
B) Amyloid precursor protein
C) Phosphorylated tau
D) Protease-resistant protein
E) RNA virus

Correct Answer:

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