Background

Neurodegenerative diseases are incurable conditions that result in progressive damage to cells and essential nervous system connections. Many neurodegenerative diseases result from protein misfolding and aggregation. Specifically, proteins can only execute various functions when they are folded correctly using the assistance of chaperone proteins. The sequence of amino acids (primary structure) is required for a correct structure of three-dimensional folding (tertiary structure). Since tertiary structure is the final folded shape of a globular protein, it is stabilized by a number of forces. However, when an unwanted amino acid sequence mutation/ an overall error in the folding process occurs, the misfolded protein can form large polymers of potentially lethal aggregates

Among these neurodegenerative diseases is Alzheimer’s disease, which tends to fall under the most common progressive diseases of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive mental deterioration as the most common cause of dementia. Specifically, there are many types of clinical dementia, but Alzheimer’s disease represents sixty to seventy-five percent of dementia cases. Scientists believe that Alzheimer’s disease prevents proper nerve cell function, causing irreversible damage to the brain before the first signs of memory loss. Although Alzheimer’s has no cure, one treatment known as Aducanumab removes amyloid from the brain to likely reduce cognitive and functional decline in people with early Alzheimer’s. Other treatments are also likely to temporarily reduce symptoms of dementia.