Beta-amyloid: a disease target or a synaptic regulator affecting age-related neurotransmitter changes?

Abstract: The amyloid cascade hypothesis sustains that beta-amyloid (Abeta) is the main pathogenetic factor of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
Although the direct and indirect neurotoxic role of Abeta are unchallenged, recent findings suggest that the peptide may have so far
unforeseen physiological roles. In this regard, the observations showing the ability of Abeta to exert synaptic activities in absence of
neurotoxicity are very intriguing. In particular, the peptide is able to affect synaptic transmission of different neurotransmitter systems in
key brain areas that regulate executive and cognitive functions, an observation that points Abeta as a new neuromodulator. However, in a
pathological context, Abeta may drive functional alterations of several neurotransmitter systems in the early phases of the disease, in turn
producing subtle cognitive and behavioural disturbances in addition and before the well known neurodegenerative events. On the other
hand, advancing age is the most significant risk factor for the development of AD. In fact, during aging increased Abeta levels have been
reported. Moreover, several neurotransmitter systems undergo age-related changes in parallel to a decline of cognitive functions.
However, the putative neuromodulatory role of Abeta in the context of aging is nowadays unknown. For these reasons, future studies about
the spectrum of action of Abeta (brain areas and neurotransmitter systems affected) are particularly interesting since may suggest new
therapeutic targets in order to sustain those functions which may be altered during aging.
Keywords: Aging, beta-amyloid, physiological role, synaptic activity, neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, retrogenesis, Alzheimer’s disease.