Furthermore, Gu and other researchers [166] found that the Aβl-42 peptide caused neurodegenerative changes in a stereotaxic rat model of AD, including cognitive impairment, increased pro-apoptotic markers (Bax, caspase-3 and -9), and decreased Bcl-2 and BDNF levels. The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is Alzheimer disease.