Neuropathology after active Aβ42 immunotherapy: implications for Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis

The amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is testable: it implies that interference with Aβ aggregation and plaque formation may be therapeutically useful. Aβ42 immunisation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice prevented plaque formation and caused removal of existing plaques. The first clinical studies of Aβ immunisation in AD patients (AN1792, Elan Pharmaceuticals) were halted when some patients suffered side...