Neurofibrillary tangles and Lewy bodies in the locus ceruleus neurons of the aged brain.

The presence of Lewy body and neurofibrillary tangle in the locus ceruleus neurons of aged brain is described. Ultrastructural study revealed that in some Lewy bodies the presence of "twisted tubules" or "paired helical filaments" amongst the filaments of the Lewy body. A quantitative analysis of serial sections of locus ceruleus from aged brain, incidences of the Lewy body and neurofibrillary change were 0.07% (9/11,515) and 6.6% (15/11,515), respectively. The incidence of neurons containing both structures was 0.008% (1/11,515).