Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing in Autism and Alzheimer’s Disease and the Potential Therapeutic Use of Trehalose
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Authors
Sanders, Kimberly M.
Issue Date
2013
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Naturopathy , Autism , Alzheimer’s disease , Amyloid precursor protein , Amyloid beta , Amyloid plaques , Trehalose , Autophagy , Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)
Alternative Title
Abstract
Multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and autism, are associated with the presence of amyloid material in the brain which has been shown to lead to impaired synaptic transmission and neurotoxicity (1). However, children with autism are found to have excessive amyloid generated through a different pathway than those with Alzheimer’s disease (1). The type of amyloid present in the brains of children with autism is linked with brain overgrowth and impaired synaptic connections, but controversy exists about whether this material actually forms amyloid plaques in children (1). However, most research suggests that the early accumulation of amyloid material in childhood may eventually lead to amyloid plaque formation in adult autistics. One novel treatment for reducing such amyloid plaque formation is the disaccharide trehalose, which has been shown to enhance destruction of amyloid plaques and reduce neurotoxicity (2). Trehalose may prove to be safe and effective for both the treatment of prevention of amyloid plaques in children with autism.
Description
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Citation
K.M. Sanders, "Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing in Autism and Alzheimer’s Disease and the Potential Therapeutic Use of Trehalose", ND dissertation, College of Naturopathic Medicine, Univ. of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT, 2013.