Beta Amyloid Protein, Plaque, and Alzheimer's

By
Esther Heerema, MSW
Esther Heerema, MSW, shares practical tips gained from working with hundreds of people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia.
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Esther Heerema, MSW
Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD on January 04, 2020

Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, is an award-winning, board-certified physician-scientist and clinical development specialist.

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Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
on January 04, 2020
Beta-Amyloid Protein and Alzheimer's Disease
Beta-Amyloid Protein. Pasieka Oxford Scientific/Getty Images

​Beta-amyloid protein and plaque – these are two terms that are related to the brain changes in Alzheimer's disease. Want to know more? Here are 9 facts for you: 

  1. The buildup of beta-amyloid protein in the brain is considered to be one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. (The other major hallmark is neurofibrillary tangles.) These beta-amyloid proteins clump together to form insoluble (not able to be dissolved) plaques outside of the neurons. Neurofibrillary tangles are found, to the contrary, inside neurons.
  2. Beta-amyloid proteins also build up at synapses (the junction between two neurons) and interfere with communication from one cell to another in the brain.
  3. Before a cluster of beta-amyloid is large enough to be called plaque, these proteins first form oligomers. Oligomers are still soluble (able to be dissolved), smaller groups of beta-amyloid.
  4. Although plaques have long been identified as one of the causes of Alzheimer's, researchers have recently called this into question, identifying the above-described oligomers as perhaps being one of the main culprits in preventing communication from cell to cell. One reason behind this is that some people have plaque build-up in the brain, yet do not have symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
  5. Additionally, other research has shown that cognitive changes appear to begin before the beta-amyloid proteins from the larger chunks of plaque.
  6. Science discovered beta-amyloid proteins more than 100 years ago. They were first identified by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906.
  7. Beta-amyloid is part of a larger protein called amyloid precursor protein.
  8. Interesting quote: "Many scientists also think that plaques actually may be a late-stage attempt by the brain to get this harmful beta-amyloid away from neurons" (Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center).
  9. Research conducted at the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center found that the immune system responded the same way to plaque as it did to bacteria, triggering inflammation in the brain that damaged neurons. Inflammation in the brain has been connected with Alzheimer's disease.

​​Sources:

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