Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, afflicting 24 million people worldwide. However, the exact cause of this disease is still unknown and current treatment can only slow its onset. 

In his Dalton Transactions Frontier article, Arvi Rauk (University of Calgary, Canada) describes the role the amyloid beta protein plays in Alzheimer's disease. The oligomeric version of this protein, probably coordinated to copper, is the most neurotoxic form. This oligomer has a high reduction potential and is found to damage both cell membranes and lipids in the brain. Also, its reactions with cholesterol can produce additional neurotoxic compounds. Rauk discusses strategies to develop compounds that can prevent the formation of this neurotoxic species. 

Further studies into this protein may provide a way to cure or prevent Alzheimer's. 'A viable strategy to prevent the neurotoxicity of amyloid beta protein is to prevent its oligomerisation,' says Rauk.