ATG5 and Alzheimer disease: Similarly, some studies have clarified the downregulation of some mitophagy and autophagy genes, including Optineurin (OPTN), BNIP3L, FUNDC1, VDAC1, Bcl-1 (Beclin-1), ULK1, PI3K class III, ATG5, ATG12, BNIP3, AMBRA1, and VCP/P97, which are associated with AD-affected brains [54].