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alpha- and beta-secretase: profound changes in Alzheimer's disease
Tyler SJ, Dawbarn D, Wilcock GK, Allen SJ.. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2002-12-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
The amyloid plaque, a neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, is produced by the deposition of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide, which is cleaved from Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) by the enzyme beta-secretase. Only small amounts of Abeta form in normal brain; more typically this is precluded by the processing of APP by alpha-secretase. Here, we describe a decrease in alpha-secretase (81% of normal) and a large increase in beta-secretase activity (185%) in sporadic Alzheimer's disease temporal cortex.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Tyler, S. J., Dawbarn, D., Wilcock, G. K., & Allen, S. J. (2002). alpha- and beta-secretase: profound changes in Alzheimer's disease. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02635-9
Vancouver
Tyler SJ, Dawbarn D, Wilcock GK, Allen SJ. alpha- and beta-secretase: profound changes in Alzheimer's disease. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 2002. doi:10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02635-9. PMID: 12445809.
BibTeX
@article{tyler2002-12445809,
author = {Tyler, S. J. and Dawbarn, D. and Wilcock, G. K. and Allen, S. J.},
title = {{alpha- and beta-secretase: profound changes in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02635-9},
pmid = {12445809},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02635-9}
}
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Key findings
- Only small amounts of Abeta form in normal brain; more typically this is precluded by the processing of APP by alpha-secretase.
- Here, we describe a decrease in alpha-secretase (81% of normal) and a large increase in beta-secretase activity (185%) in sporadic Alzheimer's disease temporal cortex.
- Since alpha-secretase is present principally in neurons known to be vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease, and there is known competition between alpha- and beta-secretase for the substrate APP, it is significant that the majority of Alzheimer samples tested here were low in alpha-secretase.
- Eighty percent of Alzheimer brains examined had an increase in beta-secretase, a decrease in alpha-secretase, or both; which may account for the means by which the majority of people develop Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
This study found decreased alpha-secretase activity and increased beta-secretase activity in the temporal cortex of people with sporadic Alzheimer's disease. It describes a change associated with the disease but does not show that altering these enzymes treats or prevents it.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Biochemical and biophysical research communications) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications: journal h-index 393 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2002 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 190 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.3 citations a year over 26 year(s) since 2002 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Shelley Jane Allen: h-index 39 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Bristol: institution h-index 1,260 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12445809) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
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