tacogamer20 t1_j27o7fu wrote on December 30, 2022 at 5:58 AM

Reply to comment by AdditionalRabbit4516 in ELI5: Alzheimer's is dementia, but not all dementia is Alzheimer's. So what is the difference? by degobrah

The link between Alzheimer's and amyloid plaques has fallen out of favor the last decade or so. Tau tangles, for example, have been linked to Alzheimer's like symptoms. There have also been many cases where plaques are present without symptoms, and symptoms present without plaques as seen after autopsy.

AdditionalRabbit4516 t1_j28jhq8 wrote on December 30, 2022 at 12:31 PM

That’s why I said “related” and not “caused by,” since we don’t know the exact causal mechanism. But beta amyloid PET imaging is used to make Alzheimer’s diagnoses because levels do correspond to severity, for the most part. I work in neurology research.

Edit: also the article you’re referencing really only proved one lab was completely corrupt and shady. There are DOZENS of other b amyloid labs (and subtypes) and quite literally HUNDREDS of preclinical studies whose b amyloid work is supported, which is why clinical trials keep going that direction. Unfortunately they fail. There isn’t some big conspiracy to NOT cure AD. The Science article claiming otherwise was really really sensationalist. But I agree we don’t have a handle on it right now, and other therapeutics are needed.