Abeta-polyacrolein aggregates: novel mechanism of plastic formation in senile plaques.

High levels of acrolein (H2C=HC-CH=O) occur in Alzheimer's brain. Amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide co-localizes with acrolein presumably due to Abeta-induced lipid peroxidation. Focal production of acrolein may yield a transient elevation in the concentration of acrolein that may be susceptible to polymerization via basic latex polymer chemistry.