amyloid
n.n. a type of protein that can build up in the body and cause serious health problems, like in Alzheimer's disease.
n. a protein that can aggregate into insoluble fibrils, often associated with various neurodegenerative and systemic diseases.
Scientists are studying how amyloid builds up in the brain.
Researchers are developing new drugs to prevent the formation of amyloid plaques that lead to memory loss.
The accumulation of amyloid-beta peptides in the extracellular matrix is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, leading to the disruption of neuronal communication and eventual cell death.
From amyl + -oid.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 19, 2026