Figure 5.

Schematic representation of the events leading to neuronal death and subsequent cognitive impairment. Misfolding and aggregation lead to the formation of PFOs, which not only result in the formation of insoluble fibers that are deposited in the nerve tissue, but also form amyloid pores in the synaptic membrane. The resulting deregulation of the Ca²⁺ homeostasis is responsible for the cascade of events that include vesicular depletion, synaptotoxicity, impaired synaptic plasticity and, ultimately, cell death and cognitive decline.