CASP3 and Alzheimer disease: Moreover, a correlation between increased expression of BCL2 in brain regions rich in Aβ plaques and neuroprotection was observed in an amyloid precursor protein transgenic mouse model for AD.453 This study further supported the neuroprotective functions of BCL2, which reduced the caspase 3-mediated cleavage of amyloid precursor protein and subsequently prevented the formation of extracellular Aβ plaques.454