The amyloid plaque score (APS) and average area of both β-amyloid deposition and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) were quantitatively measured as described in the “Methods” section by using ImageJ software [23] (Additional file 1: Figure S2) in the whole set of 30 AD cases and 12 controls included in the study. This evidence concerns the gene MAPT and amyloidosis.