New FDA-approved blood tests for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease
Understanding Amyloid Protein Plaques: The Biological Hallmarks of Alzheimer's amyloid protein plaque
Amyloid protein plaques are hard, insoluble accumulations of proteins that build up in the spaces between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Considered a primary hallmark of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) , these plaques disrupt critical cell-to-cell communication and trigger a cascade of neurodegeneration. 1. How Plaques Form How Plaques Form : In a healthy brain,
: In a healthy brain, these fragments are cleared away. In Alzheimer’s, an imbalance between protein production and clearance leads to an accumulation of Aβ42 , a particularly "sticky" form of the protein. Once plaques establish themselves in the brain's cortex
The process begins with the , a protein typically found in the membranes of neurons.
Once plaques establish themselves in the brain's cortex and hippocampus, they cause significant damage:
: Enzymes called secretases (specifically β-secretase and γ-secretase) cut APP into smaller fragments.