A new study reveals that a previously undiscovered mouse gene
reduces the two major pathological perturbations commonly
associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The research,
published by Cell Press in the November 12 issue of the journal
Neuron, finds that the novel gene interacts with a key cellular
enzyme previously-linked with AD pathology, thereby uncovering a
new strategy for treating this devastating disorder. AD is an
incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized by a
pathological accumulation of extracellular sticky amyloid beta
(a-beta) protein plaques and intracellular hyperphosphorylated
tau protein aggregations, called neurofibrillary tangles (NFT),
in the brain. Previous research has suggested that glycogen
synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), an enzyme that is essential for many
critical cellular functions, may play a role in both a-beta
plaque and NFT generation. "Because GSK-3 regulates two major
pathological hallmarks of AD, manipulation of its activity is an
attractive potential therapeutic stra