Amyloid Hypothesis: The Emperor's New Clothes?

J Alzheimers Dis. 2020;78(4):1363-1366. doi: 10.3233/JAD-200990.

Abstract

The lengthy debate on the validity of the amyloid hypothesis and the usefulness of amyloid imaging and anti-amyloid therapeutic interventions in dementia continues unabated, even though none of them have been able to convince the medical world of their correctness and clinical value. There are huge financial interests associated with promoting both, but in spite of the large sums of money in their support, no effective anti-amyloid treatments or diagnostic use of amyloid imaging have emerged. There are solid scientific reasons that explain these negative results, and it is time to move forward to other promising options for the benefit of the patients.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; amyloid hypothesis; amyloid imaging; anti-amyloid therapeutic interventions; clinical usefulness.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / therapy
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.
  • Humans
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • United States

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides