Amyloids

[oldschool]

Has there been a definitive link made between amyloids and Alzheimer's, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's, etc? How much research has been done on the connection?

[MargeB]

Yes. For DAT (Alzheimers). I didn't hear about it for the other two, I doubt it. Parkinsons is a breakdown in dopamine production in the Substantia Nigra. I can see how some might start suggesting this be an amyloid problem.
When you do an autopsy on the brain of a DAT sufferer, it's easy to see where the degenerative plaques have replaced once healthy cells, especially in the frontal and temporal lobes. Prob is, we don't know whether this causes DAT, or is the result of it....

[Bearcat]

Amyloid plaques are also present in PD, however they are not a cause, usually due to the dementia that ensues PD