Alberto Espay - Alzheimer’s Amyloid Theory Into Question

Amyloid-Beta And Alzheimer's Disease - Amyloid beta is a protein fragment that's been shown to play an important role in Alzheimer’s disease.

The Amyloid beta-protein is a major component of the plaques that form in many people with Alzheimer's disease. As these proteins clump together, they start to interfere and destroy neurons so research involving this protein has been intense; however, it seems as though there are more questions than answers when it comes to how amyloids cause neurodegeneration.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. In 2021, Alzheimer's and other dementias will cost the nation $355 billion. By 2050, these costs could rise as high as $1.1 trillion. - according to alz.org.

If you’re like most people, you believe that amyloid plaques are the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The amyloid hypothesis is the leading theory for explaining Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and it has been used to develop many drugs that have failed.

The amyloid hypothesis, which states that plaques are causing cognitive impairment, has been the dominant theory for decades. Many scientists have spent their entire careers studying this theory and trying to prove it true. But now there is a growing group of scientists who question if this theory is correct or not.

They found that while plaques do accumulate in the brains of people living with dementia, they aren't actually responsible for cognitive decline.
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Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction
[00:02:37] Share with us a little bit about yourself?
[00:03:57] What is so important about amyloid and how does amyloid interact with what we know about the brain?
[00:08:56] How does the structure of this protein differ from other diseases associated with amyloid production?
[00:11:32] Why are we just now discovering that amyloid plaques may be the symptom and not the cause of Alzheimer's?
[00:16:33] What is the timeline like for cognitive progression for amyloid protein deposits?
[00:21:53] Does this research mean that we will see any human trials in the future?
[00:26:49] Do you recommend that people start to monitor their amyloid levels early like today, just in case they have early signs of memory loss?
[00:31:53] Have you noticed cognitive improvements after being treated with drugs that lower amyloid levels?
[00:35:11] Let's say if this theory is correct, what do you think the implications are for Alzheimer's patients and their families?
[00:37:33] Did any of these studies mention what genetic factors or risk factors might be tied to?
[00:39:51] Is there a link between gut health and Alzheimer's disease?
[00:41:58] Do you think that there are ways for people with a family history of Alzheimer's disease to reduce their risk?
[00:52:15] Do you have anything else that you would like to share?
[00:53:08] How do people reach out to you?
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Bio:

Dr. Alberto J. Espay is a Professor and the endowed chair of the University of Cincinnati James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. His research efforts have focused on the measurement of motor and behavioral phenomena in—and clinical trials for—Parkinson’s disease as well as in the understanding and management of functional movement disorders. Recently, he launched a phenotype-agnostic biomarker development program for neurodegenerative diseases with the aim to identify those small but biologically suitable subgroups most likely to respond to therapies already available or under current investigation.

Learn more about Alberto:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alberto-espay-9a834758/
Website: https://www.uchealth.com/physician/alberto-espay/
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