The role of complement in Alzheimer's disease pathology

Complement proteins are integral components of amyloid plaques and cerebral vascular amyloid ill Alzheimer brains. They can be found at the earliest s tages of amyloid deposition and their activation coincides with the clinica l expression of Alzheimer's dementia. This review will examine the origins of complement in the brain and the role of P-amyloid peptide (AP) in comple ment activation in Alzheimer's disease, an event that might serve as a nidu s of chronic inflammation. Pharmacology therapies that may serve to inhibit A beta-mediated complement activation will also be discussed. (C) 2000 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.