beta-amyloid

noun

be·​ta-am·​y·​loid ˈbā-tə-ˈa-mə-ˌlȯid 

variants or beta-amyloid protein or beta-amyloid peptide

: an amyloid that is derived from a larger precursor protein and is the primary component of plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease

… beta-amyloid is the main component of the plaques, or brain lesions, found in the estimated 4 million Americans afflicted with Alzheimer's disease.

—Discover

… researchers in California have created mice carrying the gene for beta-amyloid protein, the principal component of the plaques riddling the brains of people with Alzheimer's.

—Charlene Crabb

… he never underwent an autopsy that would have shown unequivocally whether the gummy mess of beta-amyloid plaques that is the telltale symptom of Alzheimer's had infected his brain.

—Michael Greenberg

called also A-beta, amyloid beta, amyloid beta peptide, amyloid beta protein

Examples of beta-amyloid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Physical activity may also directly impact Alzheimer's disease pathology, such as the buildup of toxic beta-amyloid in the brain, according to the researcher. —Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 28 Nov. 2025

Oxidative stress may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease by boosting the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles within the brain. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025

These plaques form after fragments of a misfolded protein called beta-amyloid begin to clump together. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025

Elecsys looks for only one protein, p-tau181, whereas Lumipulse uses a ratio of two proteins called p-tau217 and beta-amyloid 1-42. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for beta-amyloid

• corticosteroid
• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid
• amyloid
• aneroid
• anthropoid
• arachnoid
• asteroid
• benzenoid
• carcinoid
• celluloid

Medical Definition

beta-amyloid

noun

be·​ta-am·​y·​loid

variants also β-amyloid

-ˈam-ə-ˌlȯid 

or beta-amyloid protein or beta-amyloid peptide

: an amyloid that is derived from amyloid precursor protein and is the primary component of plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease

called also A-beta, amyloid beta, amyloid beta peptide, amyloid beta protein