Alzheimer

Multiple pathways progressing to Alzheimer's disease

Date:June 25, 2015Source:University of California, San Diego Health SciencesSummary:The amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) posits that sticky aggregations or plaques of amyloid-beta peptides accumulate over time in the brain, triggering a series of events that ultimately result in the full-blown neurodegenerative disorder. The hypothesis has been a major driver of AD research for more than 20 years. However, in a new study, researchers suggest the picture is not so clear-cut, reporting that early indicators or biomarkers of AD development are not fixed in a specific sequence.Share:  39   0   4   0 Total shares:  43FULL STORYMicrograph of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in human brain.Credit: Thomas Deerinck/National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research at UC San DiegoThe amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) posits that sticky aggregations or plaques of amyloid-beta peptides accumulate over time in the brain, triggering a series of events that ultimately result in the full-blown neurodegenerative disorder. The hypothesis has been a major driver of AD research for more than 20 years.