Final answer:
The statement is true; insoluble proteins that misfold can accumulate in the brain as amyloid plaques, contributing to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, among others. This phenomenon is referred to as proteopathy, where the accumulation of toxic proteins leads to cell death and brain dysfunction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that insoluble proteins form, accumulate, and devastate brain function, known as senile or neurotic plaques, is true. Proteins rely on their three-dimensional shape to function correctly, and this shape is determined by the folding of a linear sequence of amino acids based on their interactions. Several neurodegenerative diseases are, in fact, associated with the misfolding of proteins, which leads to their aggregation and the formation of toxic amyloid plaques. Alzheimer's disease, for example, is characterized by the accumulation of such plaques in the cerebral cortex, contributing to the typical symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive decline.
The accumulation of altered proteins also occurs in other diseases, such as Creutzfeld-Jacob disease and Parkinson's disease. These conditions are part of a group known as 'proteopathy', where dysfunctional proteins aggregate and become toxic to cells. This has opened up new therapeutic avenues aimed at interfering with protein accumulation, providing hope for treating these devastating diseases.
Moreover, Alzheimer's disease is associated not only with the accumulation of amyloid plaques but also with tau protein abnormalities, such as neurofibrillary tangles. These deposits and tangles lead to the dysfunction and death of neurons, particularly in brain areas like the hippocampus, which are crucial for memory and cognition.