Abstract
Despite considerable progress in defining the role of the β-amyloid protein (Aβ) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease (AD), the mechanism by which accumulation of Aβ causes dementia remains elusive. Memory loss is probably caused by an Aβ-induced change in synaptic plasticity. Computational neuroscience (neural network modelling) studies demonstrate that cell death (or synaptic loss as a consequence of cell death) per se cannot cause the specific pattern of gradual amnesia that occurs in AD. Amnesia typical of that seen in AD can only be produced when synaptic scaling occurs. Synaptic scaling is a compensatory homeostatic mechanism which maintains the excitatory response of individual neurons and prevents the catastrophic amnesia associated with synapse loss. In this review, several possible mechanisms of synaptic scaling are described.
Keywords: Amyloid, nicotinic receptor, neural network, computational neuroscience, amnesia, acetylcholinesterase, synaptic scaling
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: Mechanisms of Synaptic Homeostasis in Alzheimers Disease
Volume: 1 Issue: 1
Author(s): David H. Small
Affiliation:
Keywords: Amyloid, nicotinic receptor, neural network, computational neuroscience, amnesia, acetylcholinesterase, synaptic scaling
Abstract: Despite considerable progress in defining the role of the β-amyloid protein (Aβ) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease (AD), the mechanism by which accumulation of Aβ causes dementia remains elusive. Memory loss is probably caused by an Aβ-induced change in synaptic plasticity. Computational neuroscience (neural network modelling) studies demonstrate that cell death (or synaptic loss as a consequence of cell death) per se cannot cause the specific pattern of gradual amnesia that occurs in AD. Amnesia typical of that seen in AD can only be produced when synaptic scaling occurs. Synaptic scaling is a compensatory homeostatic mechanism which maintains the excitatory response of individual neurons and prevents the catastrophic amnesia associated with synapse loss. In this review, several possible mechanisms of synaptic scaling are described.
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Cite this article as:
Small H. David, Mechanisms of Synaptic Homeostasis in Alzheimers Disease, Current Alzheimer Research 2004; 1 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205043480573
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205043480573 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
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