Increasing a Type of Amyloid Protein May Slow Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease

For over 30 years, the amyloid hypothesis has postulated that the accumulation of amyloid beta proteins drives Alzheimer’s disease. However, a new study challenges this theory and suggests a paradigm shift in our understanding of the disease. Aβ42, a type of amyloid beta protein, which aggregates in Alzheimer’s disease, may actually prevent cognitive decline, a new study suggests. The study, which reviewed 24 clinical trials on 10 Alzheimer’s disease drugs, found that drugs that increased levels of Aβ42 after treatment were associated with slower cognitive impairment and clinical decline. AΒ42 is a normal protein found throughout the brain, but its levels drop in people with dementia, Dr. Alberto Espay, professor of neurology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and the study’s senior author, told The Epoch Times....