Phosphorylations of Smad2 at serine 465/467 gave a nuclear signal in 96.4% of controls but only in 70.1% of the AD patients (p < 0.001); cytoplasmic granules with a nuclear signal was seen in no controls but in 11.7% of AD patients (p < 0.001); and cytoplasmic granules without a nuclear signal were seen in 0.1% of controls but in 10.6% of AD patients (p < 0.001). The gene discussed is SMAD2; the disease is Alzheimer disease.