Alzheimer's Disease and the Amyloid-β Peptide

Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis is widely believed to be driven by the production and deposition of the amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta). For many years, investigators have been puzzled by the weak to nonexistent correlation between the amount of neuritic plaque pathology in the human brain and the degree of clinical dementia. Recent advances in our understanding of the development of amyloid pathology have helped solve this mystery. Substantial evidence now indicates that the solubility of Abeta, and the quantity of Abeta in different pools, may be more closely related to disease state. The composition of these pools of Abeta reflects different populations of amyloid deposits and has definite correlates…