Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease: is covalently crosslinked A beta responsible?

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, and is characterised by extracellular amyloid plaques composed of the beta-amyloid peptide (A beta). However, disease progression has been shown to correlate more closely with the level of soluble A beta oligomers. Recent evidence suggests that these oligomers are covalently crosslinked, possibly due to the interaction of A beta with redox-active metal ions. These findings offer new avenues for the treatment and prevention of disease, by modulating metal binding or preventing the formation of neurotoxic A beta oligomers.