**Core Concept**
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, leading to neuronal loss and cognitive decline.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The pathology of Alzheimer's disease involves the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptides, which are derived from the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by beta-secretase and gamma-secretase enzymes. This process results in the formation of insoluble fibrils that deposit in the brain as senile plaques. Additionally, hyperphosphorylated tau protein accumulates in neurons as neurofibrillary tangles, further contributing to neuronal dysfunction and death. The accumulation of these pathological features is thought to lead to the disruption of synaptic function, neuronal loss, and ultimately, the cognitive decline characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect as it does not accurately describe the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. While inflammation is a feature of the disease, it is not a primary cause of the cognitive decline.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect as it describes the pathology of frontotemporal dementia, which is a distinct neurodegenerative disorder.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect as it describes a feature of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a prion-related disorder.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The amyloid cascade hypothesis, which posits that the accumulation of amyloid-beta is the primary driver of Alzheimer's disease pathology, remains a widely accepted theory, although the exact mechanisms underlying the disease are still not fully understood.

**Correct Answer: D. Amyloid-beta accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation.**