The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Dementia Due

The nurse is caring for a patient with dementia due to Alzheimer disease. What is the nurse's best understanding of the etiology of this disease?

A) A presence of eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the cortex and brain stem results in impaired cognitive function.
B) An infectious form of a normally harmless type of protein, called a prion, interferes with neuronal health, leading to dementia.
C) Multiple vascular lesions occur in the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures, resulting from the decreased blood supply to the brain, lead to a decline in cognitive function.
D) A buildup of beta amyloid plaques and tangled strands of tau protein interferes with neuronal health, communication, and transport functions, leading to dementia.