"Aβ hypothesis"

The "Aβ hypothesis" suggests that in Alzheimer's disease, abnormal buildup of a protein called amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the brain triggers the disease process. This protein fragments and accumulates into plaques outside nerve cells, leading to impaired communication between brain cells, inflammation, and cell death. The hypothesis proposes that these amyloid plaques are a primary cause of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's. Therefore, treatments targeting the reduction or removal of amyloid-beta are developed with the goal of slowing or stopping disease progression. It remains a leading theory guiding Alzheimer’s research and drug development.