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Science 1 May 2009:
Vol. 324. no. 5927, pp. 603 - 604
DOI: 10.1126/science.1174267
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Perspectives

Medicine:

Avoiding Unintended Toxicity

Todd E. Golde and Thomas L. Kukar

Amyloid-β protein (Aβ) deposition in the brain is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Considerable data support the concept that the aggregation and accumulation of Aβ in the brain trigger a complex pathological cascade that ultimately results in neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration (1). Thus, therapies for Alzheimer's disease have focused mainly on preventing or slowing Aβ aggregation, neutralizing toxic Aβ aggregates, or clearing and breaking up these aggregates (2). On page 639 of this issue, Serneels et al. (3) report a theoretically safe approach to decrease Aβ production and thereby slow Aβ aggregation.

Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.

E-mail: tgolde{at}mayo.edu; kukar.thomas{at}mayo.edu

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)