[Changes in dendrites in disease and aging].

Just like in other organs, e.g. in the skin or in the supporting tissue, in the CNS too the reactions to diverse noxae or causes are always stereotyped. The mental or motor retardations are distinguished by a deterioration of the neuropils, especially by the recession of the dentritic branching and their spinae. Also during physiological aging the dendritic apparatus decreases. The neuropilic differences during physiological and pathological aging, however, are rather quantitative than qualitative ones. Dendritic proliferation as a compensation mechanism for neuron recession in old age is of particular importance.