Alzheimer's disease overview

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of senile dementia. Since the discovery in 1984 of the amyloid ?-peptide (A?) as the core protein of the senile plaques present in the brains of Alzheimer's disease sufferers, an immense amount of research has gone into mapping out the molecular basis of this debilitating disease.

About the book

The aim of Alzheimer's Disease: Methods and Protocols is to bring together the main biochemical, cell biological, and molecular biological techniques and approaches that are being used to investigate the molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease. This volume begins with chapters of an introductory/ review nature.

Chapter summaries

Chapter 1 provides a historical introduction to Alzheimer’s disease with particular emphasis on the central role played by A? and its relation to tau.

Chapter 2 examines the genetics underlying this neurodegenerative disease, covering the amyloid precursor protein, apolipoprotein E, and the presenilins.

Chapter 3 presents an overview of currently available therapeutic agents and prospects for drugs of the future.