Prion protein in Alzheimer's pathogenesis: a hot and controversial issue

Abstract
The role for cellular prion protein PrPc in β‐amyloid (Aβ) oligomer‐induced synaptic impairment is a topic of great interest and some controversy. In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine Aguzzi and co‐workers explore the contribution of PrPc to deficient long term potentiation (LTP) and soluble Aβ levels in an Alzheimer9s disease mouse model and show that the role of prions in Aβ related toxicity is far from ‘black and white’ suggesting complex interpretations of the data available thus far. See related article in EMBO Mol Med (Calella AM et al (2010) EMBO Mol Med 2: 306–314)