ESTROGEN REDUCES NEURONAL GENERATION OF ALZHEIMER BETA-AMYLOID PEPTIDES

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of cereb ral plaques composed of 40- and 42-amino acid beta-amyloid (A beta) pe ptides, and autosomal dominant forms of AD appear to cause disease by promoting brain A beta accumulation. Recent studies indicate that post menopausal estrogen replacement therapy may prevent or delay the onset of AD. Here we present evidence that physiological levels of 17 beta- estradiol reduce the generation of A beta by neuroblastoma cells and b y primary cultures of rat, mouse and human embryonic cerebrocortical n eurons. These results suggest a mechanism by which estrogen replacemen t therapy can delay or prevent AD.