Soluble pool of Aβ amyloid as a determinant of severity of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Genetic evidence strongly supports the view that Aβ amyloid production is central to the cause of Alzheimer's disease. The kinetics, compartmentation, and form of Aβ and its temporal relation to the neurodegenerative process remain uncertain. The levels of soluble and insoluble Aβ were determined by using western blot techniques, and the findings were assessed in relation to indices of severity of disease. The mean level of soluble Aβ is increased threefold in Alzheimer's disease and correlates highly with markers of disease severity. In contrast, the level of insoluble Aβ (also a measure of total amyloid load) is found only to discriminate Alzheimer's disease from controls, and does not cor..