The Role of a Pathological Interaction between β-amyloid and Mitochondria in the Occurrence and Development of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimers disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in existence. It is characterized by an impaired cognitive function that is due to a progressive loss of neurons in the brain. Extracellular -amyloid (A) plaques are the main pathological features of the disease. In addition to abnormal protein aggregation, increased mitochondrial fragmentation, altered expression of the genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, disruptions in the ERmitochondria interaction, and mitophagy are observed. Reactive oxygen species are known to affect A expression and aggregation. In turn, oligomeric and aggregated A cause mitochondrial disorders. In this review, we summarize available knowledge about the pathological effects of A on mitochondria and the potential molecular targets associated with proteinopathy and mitochondrial dysfunction for the pharmacological treatment of Alzheimers disease.