A description of materials and methods addresses the exhumation and autopsy, as well as the neuropathologic examination. The case shows that bielchowsky silver stain and immunostains for beta-amyloid peptide can be used to identify neuritic amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles despite advanced autolysis and decomposition. The combination of moderate to frequent neocortical amyloid plaques and neuritic plaques in the frontal neocortex, accompanied by few identifiable neurofibrillary tangles may be applied to the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, using the following three diagnostic criteria: CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) criteria; Braak and Braak staging criteria; and the National Institute on Aging -- Ronald and Nancy Reagan Institute working group criteria. A combination of frequent neuritic plaques (CERAD criteria) and Braak and Braak Stage IV corresponds to an intermediate to high likelihood that Alzheimer's disease pathology was the underlying cause of dementia in the case presented. This is according to the criteria of the working group of the National Institute for Aging and the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Institute of the Alzheimer's Association. 6 figures and 6 references