INI-CET EXAM -2026
Pathology & Genetics
Easy
An elderly patient dies, and an autopsy reveals neuritic plaques in the brain. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2026
Explanation
- Neuritic plaques, also known as senile plaques, are a definitive microscopic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease discovered during a brain autopsy.
- These plaques are primarily composed of a toxic protein fragment called amyloid-beta, which accumulates in the spaces between nerve cells.
- The presence of these plaques, along with neurofibrillary tangles inside the neurons, disrupts cell-to-cell communication and triggers inflammation, leading to the progressive cognitive decline characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option B: The primary pathological markers for Parkinson's disease are the presence of Lewy bodies (abnormal aggregates of alpha-synuclein protein) within neurons and a significant loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra region of the brain.
- Option C: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare prion disease. Its hallmark is spongiform encephalopathy, where the brain tissue becomes filled with microscopic holes, resembling a sponge. This is caused by the accumulation of misfolded prion proteins.
- Option D: Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder characterized by the severe atrophy (wasting away) of the caudate nucleus and putamen, parts of the basal ganglia that are crucial for motor control. It is not defined by neuritic plaques.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Pathophysiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
- While a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease requires post-mortem autopsy to identify plaques and tangles, understanding these pathologies helps clinicians make a probable diagnosis based on clinical symptoms and biomarkers (e.g., CSF analysis, PET scans).
- This knowledge is fundamental for patient and family education about the disease process and prognosis.
- Modern drug development for Alzheimer's, such as anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies, directly targets the pathological structures mentioned in the question (neuritic plaques).
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core clinical finding provided in the question stem, which is 'neuritic plaques' found on a brain autopsy.
- Recognize that this is a factual recall question testing your knowledge of the specific pathological hallmarks of different neurodegenerative diseases.
- Systematically review your memory of the key pathologies: Alzheimer's (plaques and tangles), Parkinson's (Lewy bodies), CJD (prions/spongiform changes), and Huntington's (basal ganglia atrophy).
- Directly match the finding 'neuritic plaques' to its corresponding disease, which is Alzheimer's disease.
- Briefly consider the other options to confirm they are incorrect. For example, confirm that Parkinson's is associated with Lewy bodies, not plaques.
- Select the option that aligns with your pathological knowledge.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Pathophysiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Stem keywords: elderly patient, autopsy, neuritic plaques, brain
- Lead-in keywords: most likely diagnosis
- Clinical cues: The key finding 'neuritic plaques' is a specific pathological marker.
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QRqogynYMqi-ikPMmV95c0
Reference Book
E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 1277-1279
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 4093-4095, 4058-4061
Practise the full INI-CET EXAM -2026
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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