If everyone has the pieces in place to develop Alzheimer’s, then why do only some individuals end up with the disease? Former grantee Subhojit Roy, M.D., Ph.D., addressed this question in an article published last week in the journal Neuron. The Huffington Post covered the story on August 11, noting, “While the exact cause of Alzheimer's is still not completely understood, it's generally observed that people with the condition have a buildup of plaques called amyloid-beta in their brains, as well as tangles of tau protein in inside neurons.” This study brings researchers one step closer to understanding the potential processes necessary in preventing or stopping individuals’ development of the disease.
Dr. Roy is an Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of California, San Diego and a 2011 recipient of the AFAR New Investigator in AD Award. You can read more about his AFAR project here.
Also be sure to check out the Infoaging Disease Center for expert-reviewed fact sheets on Alzheimer's and other aging-related diseases.
