Computational Model Examines The Pathways Of Alzheimer's That Strikes At The Young

Familial Alzheimer's disease strikes individuals as early as their 20s. Researchers have constructed a simple computational model (series of equations) to measure whether certain variables -- genetic mutations in proteins and "tau" tangles -- might be predicative of the development of the disease. While no links were found between amyloid beta plaque and tau tangles, modeling is a useful way for better understanding this complex, multi-layered disease.