Laboratory of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
Address for correspondence: Robert P. Friedland, M.D., Laboratory of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106. Voice: 216-368-1912; fax: 216-368-1989.
rpf2{at}po.cwru.edu
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 977: 387-390 (2002).
Global variations in the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer's
disease (AD) have not been explained. Patterns of dietary intake
of fats and other nutrients may be partly responsible. Recent
work with transgenic mice overexpressing the ß-amyloid
precursor protein suggests that anti-Aß antibodies
enhance clearance of the Aß protein from the brain
and reduce plaque burden. This has been shown even with anti-Aß
antibodies that do not enter the brain. Many factors other than
circulating anti-Aß antibodies may influence this
important process of Aß clearance, including the Aß-binding
elements, apolipoproteins E and J, circulating LDL, HDL, and
LRP, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and transthyretin. Also important
may be clearance of antibody-antigen complexes from the circulation,
as well as complement, metals, and estrogen. Dietary intake
of lipids may influence the ability of Aß-binding
proteins to enhance clearance of Aß from the brain
to blood. Understanding processes of Aß clearance
from brain may aid in determining the causes of AD in individuals,
as well as the causes of global variations in incidence and
prevalence of the disease.
