Smaller molecular-sized anaesthetics oligomerize Abeta peptide simulating Alzheimer's disease: a relevant issue.

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing global public health concern. Advanced research protocols to understand the pathogenesis of the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease run parallel to dedicated research to determine the risk factors in this global scientific crusade. Detailed understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of this disease suggests that the amyloid beta peptide (Abeta), hallmark of the disease, is subject to Abeta oligomerization, a process that increases synaptotoxicity. Increased aggregation of Ab through the stabilization of intermediate toxic
oligomers is thought to contribute to neurocognitive dysfunction. However, the mechanistic relationship remains unclear. It has been hypothesized that several commonly used inhaled anaesthetics could be involved in neurodegeneration, promoting the ‘toxic’ aggregation (oligomerization) of Abeta and contributing to an accelerated onset of Alzheimer’s disease.