Access

Research Highlights

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 15, 785 (1 August 2008) | doi:10.1038/nsmb0808-785

Research highlights

A synaptotoxic form of Aβ In Alzheimer's disease, there is progressive loss of neurons and synapses in some regions of the brain, resulting in atrophy that can be observed in patients by noninvasive techniques. Histopathological analysis of brain samples from deceased patients show an accumulation of amyloid fibers, composed of the Aβ peptide, forming insoluble deposits that are visible as plaques in between neurons.