Alzheimer's disease and cellular aging: membrane-related events as clues to primary mechanisms.

A fast-increasing number of data indicate that Alzheimer's disease is a systemic disease, not restricted to the central nervous system. The nature of Alzheimer-related changes in peripheral cells confirms and emphasizes indications from biochemical and morphological studies in brain for the involvement of cellular membranes in this disease. Analysis of membrane changes in erythrocytes from Alzheimer patients suggests that the normal aging process of these cells is disturbed. These conclusions may form the basis for further studies leading to a better insight into the etiology of Alzheimer's disease and to the development of diagnostic tools.