Telomeres and telomerase in Alzheimer's disease: Epiphenomena or a new focus for therapeutic strategy?

Sonia Franco, Maria A. Blasco, Sandra L. Siedlak, Peggy L.R. Harris, Paula I. Moreira, George Perry, Mark A. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

New approaches to the elucidation of Alzheimer disease, even those with solid data, are often ignored or dismissed as epiphenomenal when they differ from the mainstream or theoretical expectations. Here we present a new piece to the puzzle, decreases in telomere length, and telomerase expression in neuronal populations known to be vulnerable to degeneration and death in Alzheimer's disease. We can present the answers to the question "what," but the "why," "when," and "how" are not so easily answered. The goal of this report is to prompt discussion and more intensive study of this finding toward a new focus of therapeutic strategy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)164-168
Number of pages5
JournalAlzheimer's and Dementia
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • AβPP transgenic mice
  • amyloid-β
  • telomerase
  • telomerase length

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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