AGGREGATION AND DISAGGREGATION OF SENILE PLAQUES IN ALZHEIMER-DISEASE

We quantitatively analyzed, using laser scanning confocal microscopy, the three-dimensional structure of individual senile plaques in Alzhei mer disease. We carried out the quantitative analysis using statistica l methods to. gain insights about the processes that govern A beta pep tide deposition. Our results show that plaques are complex porous stru ctures with characteristic pore sizes. We interpret plaque morphology in the context of a new dynamical model based on competing aggregation and disaggregation processes in kinetic steady-state equilibrium with an additional diffusion process allowing A beta deposits to diffuse o ver the surface of plaques.