be·ta-am·y·loid

(bā′tə-ăm′ə-loid′, bē′-)

A protein fragment formed by the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein that aggregates into deposits characteristically found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Also called amyloid beta-peptide, amyloid beta-protein, beta-amyloid peptide, beta-amyloid protein.

[From the beta sheets characterizing its structure.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in periodicals archive

NanoString Technologies announced the publication of a study in the journal Acta Neuropathologica that demonstrates the capability of the GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler, or DSP, to characterize the microenvironment surrounding beta-Amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease, or AD, patients.

NanoString announces publication of study related to GeoMx DSP

Specifically, their most recent study looked at whether there is an interaction between levels of social activity, cognitive performance, and the amount of beta-amyloid in the brain, which is a neurological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

Can social interaction predict cognitive decline?

Walker and his colleagues found that adults reporting a decline in sleep quality in their 40s and 50s had more beta-amyloid protein in their brains later in life, as measured by positron emission tomography, or PET.

Poor quality sleep in 50s, 60s increases risk of Alzheimer's disease

Called Betaclear, the treatment is designed to eliminate the buildup of harmful beta-amyloid toxins in the blood before they can disrupt the connection and proper functioning of brain cells.

Innovative Alzheimer's treatment coming to PH soon

Losing just one night of sleep led to an immediate increase in beta-amyloid, a protein in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a small study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NIH Study Links Lack of Sleep to Alzheimer's Risk

Overproduction of the protein beta-amyloid is strongly linked to development of Alzheimer's disease but many drugs targeting beta-amyloid have failed in clinical trials, King's College London (KCL) reports.

Study identifies existing drug which could protect against Alzheimer's memory-loss

Starting in 2005, some of these participants received positron emission tomography (PET) scans using Pittsburgh compound B (PiB), a radioactive compound that can help identify beta-amyloid plaques in neuronal tissue.

Adequate night-time sleep could be a way to help prevent Alzheimer's disease

Researchers wanted to find other mechanisms that might accelerate the onset of AD in people with beta-amyloid plaques on nerve cells in the brain.

MGH Research Targets Proteins' Roles in Hastening Dementia, Dealing with Stress: Studies look at one protein's role in the stress response and how CVD risk factors interact with a protein linked to Alzheimer's

You might be at greater risk of developing beta-amyloid accumulations in your brain, according to new research.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Linked with Alzheimer's Marker

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that losing just one night of sleep led to an immediate increase in beta-amyloid, a protein in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Just one sleepless night ups Alzheimer's risk: Study