edited by P Zatta (University of Padova, Italy) & M Nicolini (University of Padova, Italy)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating pathology of the central nervous system (CNS) of unknown etiology which represents the most common neurodegenerative disorder. AD is the major cause of senile dementia, affecting approximately 5% of the population over 70. This syndrome is characterized by loss of short-term memory and progressive impairment of intellectual functions. No established therapeutic strategy has been found so far.

Until recently, much of the literature on AD discussed the effects of this syndrome on the CNS. In the last few years, however, a large amount of information has appeared which underscored the importance of studying AD from other perspectives with the view of identifying reliable biological markers. The amyloid precursor proteins (APPs), for instance, constitute a complex family of membrane-bound and soluble glycoproteins that are derived by alternative splicing of a gene on chromosome 21. In the hemopoietic system, APPs have been detected in a number of cell types, such as leukocytes, megakaryocytes and platelets. In addition plasma contains picomolar concentrations of APP isoforms most likely derived from platelets. Abnormalities were also detected in the electrophoretic profile of erythrocytic membranes from AD patients. Numerous abnormalities have been proposed as peripheral markers for AD and several laboratories around the world are deeply involved in this challenging research.

This book provides up-to-date information, as review chapters, on non-neuronal cells, with the aim of stimulating the formulation of potential diagnostic-therapeutic strategies.

• Foreword (P Zatta & M Nicolini)
• The Blood-Brain Barrier in Aluminium Toxicity and Alzheimer's Disease (W A Banks et al.)
• Cerebrospinal Fluid Biochemical Markers in Alzheimer's Disease (K Blennow)
• Platelet and Erythrocyte Membrane Microviscosity in Alzheimer's Disease: The Effect of Metals (S J van Rensburg et al.)
• Erythrocyte Aging, Anion Exchange Proteins, and Alzheimer's Disease (G J C G M Bosman & W J de Grip)
• Structural and Functional Changes in Erythrocytes and Platelets in Alzheimer's Disease (I Hajimohammadreza & M J Brammer)
• The Amyloid Protein Precursor of Alzheimer's Disease in Human Platelets and Kidney (Q X Li et al.)
• Proliferative Properties of Skin Cultured Fibroblasts in Alzheimer's Disease (S Sorbi & G Tesco)
• Membrane Cytoskeletal Protein Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease (D A Butterfield)
• Mitochondria, Aging, and Neurological Diseases (J P Blass et al.)
• The Role of Microglia and Astrocytes in Amyloid Deposition in Alzheimer's Disease (D W Dickson et al.)
• Relationships of Glia to Inflammatory Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis (L Brachova et al.)
• The Role of Microglial Cells in Alzheimer's Disease (D M A Mann)
• Glial Cell Extracellular Matrix in Alzheimer's Disease (D A Dewitt et al.)
• Role of Inflammation and Complement Activation in Alzheimer's Disease (R Veerhuis et al.)
• Non-Neuronal Cells Involved in β-Amyloid Deposition in Alzheimer's Disease (H M Wisniewski & J Wegiel)
• Trace Elements in Non-Neuronal Tissues in Alzheimer's Disease (W D Ehmann et al.)