Alzheimer’s mystery protein unmasked

A protein that forms plaques in people with Alzheimer’s disease takes part in the normal process of forgetting and remembering, a new study suggests.

Scientists have long wondered why neurons make beta-amyloid, also called A-beta. This sticky protein forms the characteristic, neuron-smothering plaques of Alzheimer’s disease. A-beta forms when enzymes snip a large protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP) into smaller pieces.