Alzheimer’s Society comment on new research into the toxicity of amyloid fibrils

The research studied small fibrils which make up amyloid plaques and found that the shorter the fibril the more toxic it becomes. For many years it has been believed that plaques are toxic, but recently research has focussed on the toxicity of intermediary, smaller formations of the protein that have not yet assembled into fibrils or plaques.

 

 

'Amyloid may have more than one type of toxic effect depending on the level of its build up and shape. Some potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease centre around breaking up the amyloid plaques, so it is important to understand whether this process would generate more toxic material in the brain rather than less.

 

'These findings are a valuable step in understanding why nerve cells die in the presence of amyloid and could contribute to research into finding better treatments to prevent nerve cell death. Dementia research is desperately underfunded but with the right investment it can be defeated.'

 

 

Dr Susanne Sorensen
Head of Research
Alzheimer's Society

 

Ends

 

Ref Radford et al. 'Fibril fragmentation enhances amyloid cytotoxivity' Journal of Biological Chemistry, Dec 2009.

 

Notes to editors

• One in three people over 65 will die with dementia
• Alzheimer's Society research shows that 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.
• Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them. 
  
• Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Alzheimer's Society needs to raise money to help people live well with dementia today and for research to find a cure for tomorrow. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk 
  
• Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk