Is an effective immune intervention for Alzheimer's disease in prospect?
Esiri MM.
Alzheimer's disease is characterized in part by abnormal deposits in the brain of the peptide beta amyloid (Abeta), in the form of plaques. Recent work with a transgenic model of Abeta deposition has uncovered a remarkable capacity of antibodies to prevent or clear these deposits. These experiments offer the attractive possibility, albeit some way in the future, of using antibodies as a therapy in Alzheimer's disease.