Mitochondria in aging and Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Two significant risk factors are inextricably linked with Alzheimer's disease: advancing age, and accumulation of the amyloid-β peptide. Over the age of 65 the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases almost exponentially with age, and the amyloid-β rich neuritic plaques of the Alzheimer's disease brain are a histopathological hallmark of the disease. Since its identification as a major constituent of neuritic plaques amyloid-β has attracted intense research focus as the primary causative agent in the development of Alzheimer's disease. As a result, numerous reports now exist to propose potential neurotoxic mechanisms mediated by amyloid-β. Despite these research efforts, there is st..