Letters to the Editor

I am writing with reference to the recent paper by Coskuner and Murray [1]. I am sorry but I find it very hard to believe that these authors were not aware of our previous research in the field of ATP and amyloid-β (Aβ) [2-4]. In this research, we show unequivocally that ATP, ATP + Mg, and ATP +Al (III) (as well as equivalent preparations using ADP and AMP) influence significantly the propensity for Aβ25-35, Aβ1-40, Aβ1-42, and amylin (IAPP) to form β sheets of amyloid under near physiological conditions.

I have read with interest the recent report by Jin and coworkers on the putative role of SORL1 variants in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease [1]. In their report, the authors claim a significant effect of a three-marker haplotype, but refute a second haplotype based on twenty-three case-control studies. This conclusion, it seems, is premature in view of glaring oversights.

The topic of long term cognitive impairment is of concern to patients and clinicians and it is critical that it be addressed with appropriately designed studies. It is disappointing to note that despite a plethora of opinion pieces dominating the literature, there remain no prospective studies investigating dementia following surgery and anesthesia.

The paper recently presented by Lee et al. [1] impressively broadens the debate on the effects of soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide oligomers applied at the cell surface of neurons and thus again fuels the question formulated in the headline. The authors, examining the impact of exogenously applied Aβ on signaling in neurons cultured on multi-electrode arrays, observed that subcytotoxic amounts of human Aβ_1-42 perturbed synaptic transmissions within hours.