The role of beta amyloid in Alzheimer's disease: still a cause of everything or the only one who got caught?
The beta amyloid (A beta) protein is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The tendency of the A beta peptide to aggregate, its reported neurotoxicity, and genetic linkage studies, have led to a hypothesis of AD pathogenesis that many AD researchers term the amyloid cascade hypothesis. In this hypothesis, an increased production of A beta results in neurodegeneration and ultimately dementia through a cascade of events. In the past 15 years, debate amongst AD researchers has arisen as to whether A beta is a cause or an effect of the pathogenic process. Recent in vitro and in vivo research has consolidated the theory that A beta is the primary cause, initiating secondary events, culminating in the neuropathological hallmarks associated with AD. This research has led to the development of therapeutic agents, currently in human clinical trials, which target A beta.
Sir James McCusker Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Hollywood Private Hospital, Monash Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
Giuseppe
G
Verdile
Stephanie
S
Fuller
Craig S
CS
Atwood
Simon M
SM
Laws
Samuel E
SE
Gandy
Ralph N
RN
Martins
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D023582:Alzheimer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation
D023582:Alzheimer Vaccines; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006728:Hormones; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human