argyrophilic grain disease

argyrophilic grain disease

A common (5% of all dementias) sporadic neurodegenerative disease (tauopathy) of old age which is characterised by argyrophilic grains (AGs—dendritic-derived appendages) seen by Golgi stains, and pre-tangle neurons in the limbic system, which contain hyperphosphorylated 4R tau. Hyperphosphorylated tau also accumulates in oligodendroglia and limbic astrocytes.
Clinical findings Largely depend on the extent of AGs and other associated tauopathies, e.g., Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and synucleinopathies.