Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Although its exact cause is unknown, for many years scientists have believed that a protein called beta-amyloid was responsible. Recently, this amyloid hypothesis has been questioned, and there has been a huge upsurge in dementia research. Here, we round up the latest findings, look at possible advances in diagnosis, and ask: Where next for Alzheimer’s research and treatment?
Share on PinterestResearchers are going beyond beta-amyloid and tau in the search for new treatment targets for dementia. Image credit: maradek/Getty Images.
There are several forms of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. According to the World Health OrganisationTrusted Source (WHO), there are currently 55 million people worldwide with dementia, and of these between 30 and 40 million are likely to have Alzheimer’s.
With an ageing population around the world, the number of people with dementia is rising rapidly. The Alzheimer’s AssociationTrusted Source estimates that 6.7 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease, but by 2050, that number is predicted to almost double to 12.7 million.
Although Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, its exact cause still eludes researchers. For several years, most have regarded the beta-amyloid hypothesis as the most likely explanation, but recently, this has been called into question.
So, is beta-amyloid the cause of Alzheimer’s, or are there other changes that may lead to this disease that is the seventh most commonTrusted Source cause of death worldwide? This question has been the subject of much recent research.
Beta-amyloidTrusted Source is a peptideTrusted Source formed from a larger protein, called amyloid precursor proteinTrusted Source (APP). APP is a type 1 membrane glycoprotein that is involved in the development and function of nerve cells, signaling, and transport within cells.
When enzymes cut APP into smaller molecules, beta-amyloid monomersTrusted Source are one of the products. These monomers are likely to be important in maintaining the health of nerve cellsTrusted Source.
