Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2024, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (5): 961-962.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.382245

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New insights into the effects of APP gene dose on synapse in Down syndrome

Xu-Qiao Chen*, Xinxin Zuo*   

  1. Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
  • Online:2024-05-15 Published:2023-10-31
  • Contact: Xu-Qiao Chen, PhD, q0chen@ucsd.edu; Xinxin Zuo, PhD, x3zuo@ucsd.edu.

Abstract: Synaptic dysfunction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent form of dementia, affecting over 35 million people worldwide (Tzioras et al., 2023). A synapse serves as the connection point between neurons, facilitating the transmission of information from one neuron to another. Dynamic alterations in synapses, known as synaptic plasticity, play a pivotal role in cognitive processes such as learning and memory. Synaptic loss has been identified as a key contributor to cognitive decline in AD patients. Studies have shown that the soluble forms of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau proteins are toxic to synapses, leading to cognitive impairment in animal models (Spires-Jones and Hyman, 2014). Additionally, the formation of oligomers of tau and Aβ can spread pathology through synaptic connections in the brain, emphasizing the vital role of synapses in disease progression.