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The synaptic Aβ hypothesis of Alzheimer disease

Aβ peptide is linked to Alzheimer pathology, but its toxic mechanism remains unclear. New work shows that Aβ leads to internalization of NMDA receptors, reducing their availability at synapses. The authors also suggest a molecular mechanism for this endocytosis.

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Figure 1: Effects of Aβ42 on NMDA receptor internalization at the synapse.

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Tanzi, R. The synaptic Aβ hypothesis of Alzheimer disease. Nat Neurosci 8, 977–979 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn0805-977

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