This AOP links chronic NMDA receptors inhibition during brain development to
neurodegeneration in hippocampus and cortex with amyloid plaque deposition and tau
hyperphosphorylation, and impairment of learning and memory, which are considered as
hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. It makes use of some KEs and KERs from AOP 13 and
introduces Neuroinflammation as KE, which is involved in several neurodegenerative
diseases. This AOP is based on the hypothesis of Landrigan and coworkers (2005)
proposing an early origin of neurodegenerative diseases in later life. The chemical initiator
used in this AOP for the empirical support is lead (Pb). In adults, cumulative lifetime Pb
exposure is also associated with decline in cognition, suggesting that long-term exposure
during development or occupational exposure increases the risk to develop
neurodegenerative disease. The long latency period between exposure and late-onset of
effects gives a very broad life-stage applicability. The gap of knowledge is mainly due to
limited quantitative evaluations.