Why does beta-amyloid aggregate accumulation selectively impair long-term potentiation (LTP) at hippocampal synapses?

💡 Explanation

Beta-amyloid aggregates disrupt LTP because they interfere with the calcium-dependent signaling cascades necessary for synaptic plasticity. These aggregates impair the function of kinases and phosphatases crucial for LTP induction. Therefore, LTP is selectively impaired, rather than neurotransmitter release being affected directly, nor GABA enhancement causing global inhibition.

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