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Alzheimer’s Disease

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Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

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Abstract

Cognitive impairment and psychiatric disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) result from the dysfunction and degeneration of synapses, and consequent death of neurons, in the limbic system and associated regions of the cerebral cortex. A major molecular alteration in AD is increased amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) resulting in increased production and accumulation of amyloid b-peptide (Ab) in the brain. Ab may promote synaptic dysfunction and can render neurons vulnerable to excitotoxicity and apoptosis by a mechanism involving oxidative stress and disruption of cellular calcium homeostasis. Some cases of inherited AD are caused by mutations in presenilins (PS)1 and PS2, which perturb cellular calcium homeostasis. Abnormalities in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia have also been documented in studies of experimental models of AD, suggesting contributions of these alterations to neuronal dysfunction and cell death.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neurosciences, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD

    Mark P. Mattson PhD

  2. Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

    Mark P. Mattson PhD

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  1. Mark P. Mattson PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

    Frank I. Tarazi PhD, MSc

  2. Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA

    Frank I. Tarazi PhD, MSc

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Univesity of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX

    John A. Schetz PhD

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© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Mattson, M.P. (2005). Alzheimer’s Disease. In: Tarazi, F.I., Schetz, J.A. (eds) Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-856-0:051

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-856-0:051

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-369-5

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