BECN1 and early-onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease: Alterations of Beclin 1 were reported in different neurodegenerative conditions: on the one hand, it is reduced in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients, supporting enhanced neurodegeneration [49]; on the other hand, Beclin 1 was shown to be increased in some neurodegenerative disorders, where autophagy upregulation is needed for counteracting pathogenic proteins or injury [50].