Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated that tumour necrosis factor (TNF), which is known to stimulate glial response in mediating induction and secretion of inflammatory mediators3, has also been found to be elevated in the serum, cerebrospinal fluid and cortex of AD patients4, 5, as well as in Aβ-treated microglia and astrocytes6, 7. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and Alzheimer disease.