Autoantibodies to the adenosine triphosphate synthase play a pathogenetic role in Alzheimer's disease.

Autoantibodies are often regarded as an interesting epiphenomenon of little consequence, but they can cross the blood brain barrier and also enter cells. Here ATP synthase autoantibodies isolated from Alzheimer's disease patients inhibit ATP synthesis and cause apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells. Not a good effect in the ageing brain.

Risk factors: Alzheimer's :  
Alzheimer's