Alzheimer Disease: A New Beginning or a Final Exit?

Abstract

Today, a new chapter is being written in the book of Alzheimer disease, one that is challenging the longstanding view that adult neurons are incapable of division, remain nonproliferative, and are terminally differentiated. Here, we review the provocative notion that, in Alzheimer disease, whole populations of nonstem cell neurons leave their quiescent state and re-enter into the cell cycle. However, such neuronal re-entry into the cell cycle is futile and ultimately leads to the neurodegeneration that typifies Alzheimer disease.