Insights into the pathogenesis and pathogenicity of cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Abstract

Amyloid-beta (Abeta) cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) affects most Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and ~30% of otherwise-normal elderly people. APOE epsilon 4 is a major risk factor for CAA in AD. Neurons are probably the source of the vascular Abeta. CAA develops when Abeta is deposited in the vessel walls along or across which it normally passes into the CSF and bloodstream. Vascular deposition is facilitated by factors that increase Abeta40:Abeta42, impede perivascular passage of Abeta or raise its conce…