Replies to post #206863 on Biotech Values

[genisi]

Has anyone come up with a (credible) theory that Alzheimer's is more than one distinct disease or perhaps has multiple factors that lead to the later stage symptoms?

I think most people in the AD field are in agreement with your line of thinking as several genetic and environmental factors are known to contribute to amyloid plaques and tau tangles formation, but we are yet to understand the triggers and mechanisms. Make sense that different factors cause different subtypes of AD, both familial and sporadic forms that require different treatments.

[biomaven0]

>>Has anyone come up with a (credible) theory that Alzheimer's is more than one distinct disease or perhaps has multiple factors that lead to the later stage symptoms?


Maybe ALS is a good analogy. There are currently seven distinct genes that are currently known to cause familial ALS. The genes are mostly all quite different from each other, although you can kind of see how most (but not all) might have something to do with protein disposal. So basically familial ALS must be multiple diseases ending in a common pathway (as the eventual brain pathology is indistinguishable).

[DewDiligence]

Are you referring to familial (early-onset) AD, or to AD in general?