Abstract: The APOE ε4 allele is associated with risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Longitudinal memory decline in asymptomatic APOE ε4 carriers shows greater acceleration compared with non-carriers, with a possible allele-dose effect, and begins prior to age 60. These results correlate with imaging and neuropathological studies that show AD-like changes at this age and collectively support the existence of a presymptomatic stage of AD. ... Read more

Abstract: The process of refolding or degrading misfolded proteins is the most important function of protein quality control (PQC) system. An imbalance between the capacity of PQC system and the quantity and severity of misfolded proteins may result in protein aggregate accumulation, which can ultimately contribute to a class of diseases referred to as conformational disorders. Numerous lines of evidence suggest that Ubiquilin 1 is an important component in PQC. Ubiquilin 1 has been indicated to be involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Here we review the evidence that Ubiquilin 1 is an important component of the PQC system and also review the role of Ubiquilin 1 in human diseases. ... Read more

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease has two distinct characteristics in the brain: the senile plaques composed of β-amyloid peptide deposits and the neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. “A controversy still rages over whether tau tangles or β-amyloid plaques are the primary cause of neurodegeneration in AD, and each has its vocal advocates — tauists and baptists, respectively,” said Virginia M.-Y. Lee of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Science in an article titled “Tauists and baptists United — Well Almost!”

Amyloid plaques in the brain are formed as a result of altered metabolism of amyloid precursor protein (APP) due ... Read more