Beta Amyloid

Beta amyloid is an extracellular filamentous protein deposit found in the brain. It is the major protein component of amyloid cores and neuritic plaques and is also found as a deposit in neurofibrillary tangles. In man, Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of senile dementia and is characterized by abnormal filamentous protein deposits in the brain. Beta amyloid deposits are also detected in Lewy body dementia, Down's syndrome, amyloidosis (Dutch type) and in the Guam Parkinson-Dementia complex.