DNA fragmentation and autophagic vacuoles in large number of neurons. Heightened apoptosis with AD. Higher TUNEL staining seen in neurons. Higher caspase 3 levels in neurons from entorhinal cortex, frontal cortex, and hippocampal area. Role of caspase 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 observed. Intracellular Aβ accumulation, p53-mediated transcriptional upregulation of BAX, reduction in bcl-2 and bcl-xl levels. Upregulation of Bad activity in frontal cortical and hippocampal tissue and Casp-3 in cortical neurons. The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is Alzheimer disease.