An oligomer‐directed Aβ antibody decreases synaptotoxic oligomeric Aβ in brain and improves behavioral abnormality in humanized APP knock‐in mice

There is strong evidence that soluble oligomers of amyloid beta protein (oAβ) help initiate the pathogenic cascade of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which suggests therapeutic strategies targeting oAβ over monomeric or fibrillar Aβ. A new antibody, 71A1, is 1∼00‐fold more sensitive for oAβ than synthetic monomers. The material that 71A1 specifically immunoprecipitates from AD soluble brain extracts impairs synaptic function as much as does the full extract. In accord, pre‐incubating brain extracts with 71A1 neutralizes its synaptotoxicity. 71A1 has potentially unique activities against disease‐relevant oAβ, making it a novel candidate for treating AD.