[Do immunological factors play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease?]

Immunological injury is frequently thought to be a critical factor in Alzheimer's disease. In this review we discuss the immunological indices in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and subsequently the nature of cerebral amyloid. We conclude that the results of the immunopathological research program have not contributed to the understanding of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Finally, we discuss the problems of neurobiological investigations concerning patients with dementia.