Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders

In AD, amyloid-β is currently the most researched and understood target for disease modifying approaches. Other neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by misfolded, aggregated proteins, such as α-synuclein aggregates in Parkinson’s disease.

Hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is formation of extraneuronal amyloid-β aggregates

1. Amyloid precursor protein produced on surface of neurons and in many tissues
2. Amyloid-β protein is cleaved by enzymes
3. “Sticky” protein floats in the brain
4. Aβ plaque is formed