Alzheimer's disease is a progressive breakdown of cognition and brain function. As Alzheimer's develops, memory, skill sets and performing functional tasks become affected. Simple things like getting yourself dressed or making breakfast can become impossible. One sign of Alzheimer's disease is the buildup of the amyloid precursor protein.
Disease Progression
The disease progresses as your brain cells lose touch with one another. This results in bad communication, and your functioning becomes impaired. In addition, a buildup of the amyloid precursor protein forms between nerve cell endings, which also affects feedback between nerve cells. Another characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, called neurofibrillary tangles, occurs to the nerve cell itself, causing an excess of protein inside the nerve cell that makes it difficult to communicate information to other cells.
Amyloid Precursor Protein
The amyloid precursor protein is made by the body to assist the interactions between cells and proteins and between cells and other cells. The amyloid precursor protein is located in many tissues, but specifically in the central nervous system, such as the brain and spinal cord. It is a necessary part of a functioning brain, assisting in conveying messages from brain cell to brain cell.
Amyloid Precursor Protein and Alzheimer's
According to the Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation, a sign of Alzheimer's disease is an accumulation of amyloid precursor protein stuck between nerve cells. In a normal working brain, buildup of this protein does not happen because of a positive feedback loop that signals the breakdown of the protein. However, in a person with Alzheimer's disease, the signal to break down the protein is not given, thus causing the protein to become a hard, plaque-like substance that keeps the brain from functioning properly.
Curing Alzheimer's
According to an article published on the ScienceDaily website, Dr. Inna Slutsky, of Tel Aviv University's Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, in Israel, may have the answer for treating a person with Alzheimer's disease. Since the amyloid precursor protein is an essential part of a normal working brain, it cannot be eliminated, but the buildup of the protein can be prevented. Slutsky is encouraging scientists and researchers to develop a drug that enhances the brain's ability to clear out any excess amyloid precursor proteins. She suggests that if the buildup does not exist, the brain may be able to function properly.
