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Joan Stephenson, PhD

JAMA. 2006;296:1830.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 143 words of the full text and any section headings.

Scientists in Europe and the United States probing have discovered that an enzyme that plays a role in Alzheimer disease also has an important function in healthy cells, findings that may have implications for potential therapies (Willem M et al. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1132341 [published online ahead of print September 21, 2006]).

Beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1, or BACE1, is essential to producing -amyloid, the main constituent of amyloid plaques found in the brains of persons with Alzheimer disease. Because of this, using BACE1-inhibiting drugs has been considered a possible therapeutic strategy.

In studies with mice, however, the researchers found that BACE1 is required for myelination of peripheral nerves. They also found that mice lacking the gene for BACE1 gene had deficient myelination. Likely adverse effects resulting from inhibition of BACE1's normal function "must be carefully considered," the researchers said.