Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease

Figures & data

Table 1 Genes implicated in familial autosomal dominant AD

Gene	Chromosome	Proportion of AD
Amyloid precursor protein	21	~25 known families
Presenilin 1	14	~315 known families
Presenilin 2	1	~18 known families

Figure 1 The amyloid cascade hypothesis. A black box is shown in the middle of the figure, since mechanisms through which Aβ42 drives downstream pathology are not well defined.

Figure 2 Alzheimer’s disease dementia develops over decades. Those with more cognitive reserve and slower decline trajectories dement at the oldest ages. Those with less cognitive reserve and more rapid decline trajectories dement at younger ages.

Figure 3 Cytochrome oxidase activity may influence cognitive decline rates. Cytochrome oxidase activity was assayed in cybrid lines expressing mtDNA from 15 different AD subjects. The youngest AD mtDNA donors tended towards lower activies. Nine cybrid lines expressing mtDNA from control subjects indicate at most subtle age-related activity reductions.

Figure 4 The mitochondrial cascade hypothesis.