APP and Alzheimer disease: Because cholesterol levels are increased in AD brains (Panchal et al., 2010; Xiong et al., 2008) and shown to be a risk factor for AD (Maulik et al., 2013; Wolozin, 2004), it is possible that an enhanced level/altered subcellular distribution of cholesterol within astrocytes can contribute to the development/propagation of AD pathology within the brain by triggering dysfunction/degeneration of neurons following transport of APP/Aβ-related peptides into recipient neurons.