Senile plaques are thought to accumulate over the course of decades in brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. In vivo mutiphoton microscopy is used to follow the birth of such plaques in live Alzheimer's disease model mice. It is found that plaques form extraordinarily quickly, over 24 hours. Within 1–2 days, the microglia move in and noticeable neuritic changes ensue. These data argue that neuritic dysfunction follows, rather than precedes, amyloid deposition.
- Melanie Meyer-Luehmann
- Tara L. Spires-Jones
- Bradley T. Hyman
