Which staining method is most commonly used to demonstrate senile plaques?

• A. Bielschowsky
• B. Bodian
• C. Weil
• D. Holzer

Answer: (A)

Silver staining of brain tissue is used to visualize the hallmark lesions of Alzheimer's disease, including senile plaques. The Bielschowsky method uses ammoniacal silver impregnation and development to stain neurofibrils and extracellular amyloid deposits, producing darkly stained plaques and tangles that stand out against a pale background. This strong contrast and its ability to reveal both plaques and tangles make it the most commonly used technique to demonstrate senile plaques. Other silver stains are more limited to different neuronal components, so they’re not as reliable for clearly showing these plaques.