Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of senile dementia. Since
the discovery in 1984 of the amyloid ?-peptide (A?) as the core protein
of the senile plaques present in the brains of Alzheimer's disease
sufferers, an immense amount of research has gone into mapping out the
molecular basis of this debilitating disease. The aim of Alzheimer's
Disease: Methods and Protocols is to bring together the main
biochemical, cell biological, and molecular biological techniques and
approaches that are being used to investigate the molecular basis of
Alzheimer's disease. This volume begins with chapters of an
introductory/ review nature. Chapter 1 provides a historical
introduction to Alzheimer's d- ease with particular emphasis on the
central role played by A? and its re- tion to tau. Chapter 2 examines
the genetics underlying this neurodegenerative disease, covering the
amyloid precursor protein, apolipoprotein E, and the presenilins.
Chapter 3 presents an overview of currently available therapeutic agents
and prospects for drugs of the future.