Table 1.

Features of Alzheimer's disease to be explained by any accurate theory

Lack of successful therapeutic development to date.

The remarkable diversity of risk factors for AD.

The high prevalence of AD in the elderly.

The mechanism(s) by which ApoE4 increases risk for AD.

The physiological role(s) of Aβ peptides.

The anatomic pattern of spread of AD pathology.

The association of plastic brain regions with AD pathology.

Why some people, and transgenic mice, collect large amounts of Aβ peptide without displaying symptoms of AD.

The relationship between Aβ and tau pathology.

The α7 paradox (i.e. α7 has been reported to mediate both enhancement and inhibition of neurodegeneration) (Dziewczapolski et al, 2009; O'Neill et al, 2002)