---
title: "Neurofibrillary Tangles | Abnormal Psychology"
description: "Neurofibrillary tangles are twisted tau protein clumps inside neurons that disrupt memory circuits and help explain Alzheimer's disease in Abnormal Psychology."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/abnormal-psychology/key-terms/neurofibrillary-tangles"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Abnormal Psychology"
unit: "Unit 15"
---

# Neurofibrillary Tangles | Abnormal Psychology

## Definition

Neurofibrillary tangles are abnormal clumps of hyperphosphorylated tau protein inside neurons. In Abnormal Psychology, they are a major sign of Alzheimer's disease and other neurocognitive disorders.

## What It Is

Neurofibrillary tangles are twisted clumps of tau protein that build up inside neurons in Abnormal Psychology, especially when you are studying neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Tau normally helps stabilize microtubules, which are part of the cell's internal transport system. When tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, it changes shape, loses its normal function, and starts sticking together inside the neuron.

That matters because neurons depend on smooth internal transport to move nutrients, proteins, and chemical signals. When tangles form, the cell's transport system gets disrupted, and the neuron cannot work properly. Over time, this stress contributes to cell dysfunction and death, which is one reason memory, language, and daily functioning can decline.

In Abnormal Psychology, neurofibrillary tangles are usually discussed alongside amyloid plaques, another hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The two are not the same thing. Plaques form outside neurons, while tangles form inside them. If you are reading about brain pathology, that location difference helps you tell them apart fast.

Tangles also matter because they are linked to where symptoms show up first. They often appear in the hippocampus and nearby cortical areas, which are central for forming new memories and organizing higher thinking. That is why early Alzheimer's often starts with forgetfulness, confusion about recent events, and trouble learning new information.

You do not usually diagnose a living person by just spotting tangles in a simple classroom setting, but the concept shows up in research, brain scans, and post-mortem examination. In class, the term usually signals that a disorder is not just about behavior or mood. It has a biological basis in brain tissue, and that biological damage helps explain why symptoms progress over time.

## Why It Matters

Neurofibrillary tangles matter because they connect brain pathology to the symptoms you see in neurocognitive disorders. In Abnormal Psychology, you are not just memorizing that Alzheimer's causes memory loss. You are tracing how tau malfunction inside neurons can damage the brain's communication network and lead to cognitive decline.

This term also helps you separate different causes of dementia-like symptoms. A person with memory problems might have Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, or another disorder, and the underlying brain changes are not identical. Knowing what tangles are gives you a concrete marker for the tau pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The concept shows up in case descriptions where someone has gradual worsening memory, trouble with orientation, and increasing difficulty with everyday tasks. If the case mentions tau, plaques, or hippocampal damage, neurofibrillary tangles are part of the explanation. That makes the term useful for diagnosis, discussion, and comparing neurocognitive disorders instead of treating all dementia symptoms as the same.

## Connections

### Tau Protein

Tau is the protein that becomes abnormal in neurofibrillary tangles. When tau is hyperphosphorylated, it stops supporting microtubules and starts clumping inside neurons. If you know what tau does normally, tangles make much more sense as a breakdown of a cell-transport protein, not just random debris in the brain.

### Alzheimer's Disease

Neurofibrillary tangles are one of the two classic brain changes tied to Alzheimer's disease, along with amyloid plaques. In case studies, tangles help explain why memory loss and cognitive decline get worse over time. They are especially associated with damage in brain regions needed for learning and recall.

### Cognitive Decline

Tangles are a biological reason cognitive decline happens gradually in some neurocognitive disorders. As more neurons are damaged, attention, memory, problem solving, and everyday functioning can get worse. This connection helps you move from a brain-level process to the symptoms described in a patient vignette.

### [Lewy Body Dementia](/abnormal-psychology/key-terms/lewy-body-dementia)

Lewy Body Dementia is often compared with Alzheimer's because both involve neurocognitive decline, but the brain pathology is different. Tangles point you toward tau-related damage, while Lewy bodies point to a different protein problem. That distinction matters when you are sorting out similar-looking disorders.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz item might ask you to identify which brain change is inside neurons and linked to Alzheimer's disease. You would match that description to neurofibrillary tangles, not amyloid plaques. In a case analysis, you may need to explain why a person with worsening memory and disorientation is showing signs of neurocognitive decline tied to tau pathology.

You may also see this term in a diagram question or short-answer prompt about the brain. The move is to connect the structure to function: tangles disrupt neuronal transport, which helps explain memory problems and progressive decline. If the question compares disorders, use tangles to distinguish Alzheimer's disease from conditions with a different cause of brain damage, such as vascular dementia or Lewy Body Dementia.

## Neurofibrillary Tangles vs Amyloid Plaques

These are commonly confused because both are hallmark brain changes in Alzheimer's disease. The difference is location and material: amyloid plaques build up outside neurons, while neurofibrillary tangles form inside neurons from abnormal tau protein. If a question asks about clogged internal transport within a neuron, tangles are the better match.

## Key Takeaways

- Neurofibrillary tangles are clumps of hyperphosphorylated tau protein that form inside neurons.
- In Abnormal Psychology, they are a major brain feature linked to Alzheimer's disease and other neurocognitive disorders.
- Tangles interfere with neuronal transport, which helps explain memory loss and progressive cognitive decline.
- They are different from amyloid plaques, which form outside neurons.
- The term matters when you are connecting brain pathology to symptoms, diagnosis, and disorder comparison.

## FAQs

### What are neurofibrillary tangles in Abnormal Psychology?

They are abnormal clumps of tau protein that build up inside neurons, especially in Alzheimer's disease. In Abnormal Psychology, they are used to explain how brain damage leads to memory problems, confusion, and worsening cognitive function.

### Are neurofibrillary tangles the same as amyloid plaques?

No. Both are linked to Alzheimer's disease, but they are different structures. Tangles form inside neurons from tau protein, while amyloid plaques form outside neurons from beta-amyloid fragments.

### Why do neurofibrillary tangles cause memory problems?

They disrupt how neurons move materials and communicate. When cells in memory-related areas like the hippocampus stop working well, new learning and recall get harder, and cognitive decline becomes more noticeable.

### How are neurofibrillary tangles used in class or on a test?

You usually use the term to explain the biological cause of Alzheimer's symptoms or to identify a brain change in a case scenario. It can also show up in comparisons with other neurocognitive disorders, where you need to match the symptom pattern to the correct pathology.

## Related Study Guides

- [15.3 Etiology and Management of Neurocognitive Disorders](/abnormal-psychology/unit-15/etiology-management-neurocognitive-disorders/study-guide/iYMmff4zTxUHQH4I)

## About This Document

Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`.

- [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns
- [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing
- [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`)
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