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The Role of the Immune System in Alzheimer's Disease

Correspondence: Address correspondence to Robert M. Cohen, Ph.D., M.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Thalians, E135, 8730 Alden Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90048; e-mail: cohenr{at}cshs.org.

The accumulation of toxic products (TP) of the processing of the amyloid precursor protein is the likely initial event in a "cascade of events" that leads to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The immune system is, however, attracting the increasing attention of researchers working in this area. First, as a responder to and possible contributor to the pathological events that occur in AD, second as a modifier of the production of and clearance of TP, third as part of a system of neuroprotection, and fourth as a suitable target in designing AD treatment strategies. While still at an early stage of understanding these complex, multidimensional, and at times, conflicting roles of the immune system in AD it is likely that successful AD treatment strategies will need to carefully consider and account for the immune network within the overall design.

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