Cited by 513Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

The probabilistic model of Alzheimer disease: the amyloid hypothesis revised

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Frisoni, Giovanni B., Altomare, Daniele, Thal, Dietmar Rudolf, Ribaldi, Federica, van der Kant, Rik, Ossenkoppele, Rik, Blennow, Kaj, Cummings, Jeffrey +5 more·2022·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

The current conceptualization of Alzheimer disease (AD) is driven by the amyloid hypothesis, in which a deterministic chain of events leads from amyloid deposition and then tau deposition to neurodegeneration and progressive cognitive impairment. This model fits autosomal dominant AD but is less applicable to sporadic AD. Owing to emerging information regarding the complex biology of AD and the challenges of developing amyloid-targeting drugs, the amyloid hypothesis needs to be reconsidered. Here we propose a probabilistic model of AD in which three variants of AD (autosomal dominant AD, APOE ε4-related sporadic AD and APOE ε4-unrelated sporadic AD) feature decreasing penetrance and decreasing weight of the amyloid pathophysiological cascade, and increasing weight of stochastic factors (environmental exposures and lower-risk genes). Together, these variants account for a large share of the neuropathological and clinical variability observed in people with AD. The implementation of this model in research might lead to a better understanding of disease pathophysiology, a revision of the current clinical taxonomy and accelerated development of strategies to prevent and treat AD.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41583-021-00533-w

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  • The amyloid cascade hypothesis remains controversial, facing challenges in explaining diverse pathological features, showing weak correlation between Aβ and cognitive decline, and failing to demonstrate efficacy in numerous clinical drugs targeting Aβ.

    “Of note, the amyloid cascade hypothesis remains controversial. This theory faces challenges in explaining the diverse pathological features, shows a weak correlation between Aβ and cognitive decline, and has failed to demonstrate efficacy in numerous clinical drugs to target Aβ.118,144–147”

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [36]US National Library of Medicine. ClinicalTrials.gov https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02484547 (2021). 28792816
  2. [72]US National Library of Medicine. ClinicalTrials.gov https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01760005 (2021). 28792816
  3. [75]Eisai Co. Ltd. Eisai and Biogen announce presentation of additional data from the phase II clinical trial of BAN2401 in early Alzheimer’s disease and the 2018 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) Conference https://www.eisai.com/news/2018/news201892.html (2018).

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Authors
Frisoni, G. B., Altomare, D., Thal, D. R., Ribaldi, F., van der Kant, R., Ossenkoppele, R., Blennow, K., Cummings, J., van Duijn, C., Nilsson, P. M., Dietrich, P.-Y., Scheltens, P., & Dubois, B.
Affiliations
  • University of Geneva (CH)
  • Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (BE)
  • Lund University (SE)
  • Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas (US)
  • University Hospital of Geneva (CH)
  • Amsterdam Neuroscience (NL)
  • Inserm (FR)
Corresponding author
Frisoni, Giovanni B.
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2021-11-23
Volume
23
Issue
1
Pages
53-66
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W3215063364
Cited by
513
References
216
Citations by year
2026: 81 · 2025: 108 · 2024: 107 · 2023: 134 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 2
FWCI
10.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Institutional Research Information System (Università degli Studi di Brescia) (submittedVersion)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
  • Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (submittedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Pfizer (P20GM109025)
  • AstraZeneca
  • Biogen (P20GM109025)
  • Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
  • Velux Stiftung
  • European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (115736, 115952)
  • TauRx Pharmaceuticals
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (115952, 182772)
  • Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (G0F8516N)
  • Eisai (P20GM109025)
  • Hjärnfonden (FO2017‑0243, FO2017, ALFGBG-715986)
  • Vetenskapsrådet (2017-00915, (#ALFGBG-715986, FO2017-0243)
  • Vifor Pharma
  • Alzheimer Nederland
  • Vlaamse regering
  • Merz Pharmaceuticals
  • H. Lundbeck A/S (P20GM109025)
  • IXICO
  • Fondation Segré
  • Genentech (P20GM109025)
  • Novartis Pharma
  • Avid Radiopharmaceuticals
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG053798, P20AG068053, P30AG072980)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P20GM109025)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (U01NS093334)
  • Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, amyloid hypothesis, probabilistic models, autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease, sporadic Alzheimer's disease, APOE ε4, disease penetrance, stochastic factors, environmental exposure, risk genes, amyloid deposition, tau deposition, neurodegeneration
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Amyloid, Animals, Humans, Models, Statistical, Amyloid beta-Peptides, tau Proteins, Amyloid Neuropathies

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