Background:

Amyloid beta (A? or Abeta) is a peptide of 36-43 amino acids that is processed from the Amyloid precursor protein. While best known as a component of amyloid plaques in association with Alzheimer's disease, evidence has been found that A? is a highly multifunctional peptide with significant non-pathological activity¹. A? is the main component of deposits found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Brain A? is elevated in patients with sporadic Alzheimeros disease. A? is the main constituent of brain parenchymal and vascular amyloid, it contributes to cerebrovascular lesions and is neurotoxic².

参考文献:
1. Lahiri DK, Maloney B (September 2010). "Beyond the signaling effect role of amyloid-?42 on the processing of A?PP, and its clinical implications". Exp. Neurol. 225 (1): 51-4.
2. Hardy J, Duff K, Hardy KG, Perez-Tur J, Hutton M (September 1998). "Genetic dissection of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: amyloid and its relationship to tau". Nat. Neurosci. 1 (5): 355-8.