connections that result in the hippocampal network plasticity associated with epileptogenesis. shorter granule cell dendrites patients with alzheimer's have shorter granule cell dendrites. furthermore, the dendrites were less branched and had fewer spines than those in patients not with alzheimer's. however, granule cell dendrites are not an essential component of senile plaques and these plaques have no direct effect on granule cells in the dentate gyrus. the specific neurofibrillary changes of dentate granule cells occur in patients with alzheimer's, lewy body variant and progressive supranuclear palsy.