The neuronal cytoskeleton can be seen as a tensegrity network. Microtubules are compression-resistant components and actin filaments tension-resistant components. Alzheimer’s disease sees this healthy network compressed by extracellular amyloid plaques. This leads to collapse of the microtubule/actin tensegrity system and thus dementia. Parkinson’s and epilepsy may be similar in some respects to Alzheimer’s. Depression is seen in Alzheimer’s disease and numerous other neuropathies. This is due to destruction of prestress in the cytoskeletal networks. In Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia microtubules are pathologically stabilised, which can lead to schizophrenia due to too much stress in the cytoskeletal network. Treatments which use the body’s own tensegrity mechanisms including massage, posture, meditation and social contact are likely to be broadly useful.

Act in filaments, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyloid, Cytoskeleton, Depression, Meditation, Microtubules, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia, Tau protein, Tensegrity