Beta amyloid is a large peptide containing 39 to 43 amino acids.

This peptide chain is thought to play a major role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. The plaques that form in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease are primarily composed of beta-amyloid peptides. This peptide may also play a role in the development of other neurological diseases, such as dementia with Lewy bodies.

Action β-amyloid plaques are mainly formed by a 42-amino acid peptide. The more common form of this peptide is only 40 amino acids long, but the 42AA peptide is more likely to form plaques. Plaques form because the protein is fibril-forming, which means it has a tendency to clump together with other similar proteins to form fibrous structures. These structures are the plaque-like amyloid proteins that gradually inhibit normal brain function in people with Alzheimer's disease. Plaques are a buildup of fibrin that is a biological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease; studies have shown that these plaques can lead to dementia because these clumps of peptide fibers attach to neurons in the brain. Once attached, these fibers prevent neurons from receiving signals from other cells in the brain. Affected neurons are unable to function properly or communicate with other brain cells and, as a result, die.

Research shows that clumps of peptide fibers attach to neurons in the brain, causing dementia. Alzheimer's disease is partly hereditary, a trait linked to the production of the 42-amino acid-long beta-amyloid peptide. related to the tendency. When a person has one copy of the gene that produces the 42AA peptide, he or she has an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A person with two copies of this gene is at high risk of developing early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Based on their understanding of how proteins interact to form plaques, researchers have proposed several potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease. One of them is a beta-secretase inhibitor, an enzyme that blocks the cleavage of amyloid into 42AA. form, this enzyme is closely linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease. A related idea is gamma secretase. Another approach to treating Alzheimer's disease is to develop a beta-amyloid antibody that recognizes and binds to the 42AA peptide. It is able to bind to the peptide and prevent it from forming plaques. Additionally, Antibodies can promote the destruction of peptides, as the immune system destroys the antibody-peptide complexes that form.