The biochemistry of Alzheimer disease

Biochemical and genetic investigations have identified four key proteins, m utations in which either cause Alzheimer disease (AD) (beta-amyloid precurs or protein, presenilin 1 and 2) or confer a higher risk of developing AD (a polipoprotein E). This paper discusses the biochemical evidence that links each protein to AD, various animal and cell models that have been used in t hese investigations, and the putative interactions between these proteins t hat lead to AD. Areas that are especially fertile for novel research are no ted as are gaps in our present understanding of the etiology of AD.