Concepts for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: molecular mechanisms and clinical application.
To date, various strategies have been developed in order to prevent or to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite the medical need for an effective therapeutic treatment of AD, progress towards this goal is painstakingly slow. Although AD is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and a large amount of primary basic and clinical research has been performed already, it appears very difficult to identify appropriate targets, which would promise fast, effective and safe strategies to combat the disease onset and progression. In this review, we present some of clinically applied treatment options, which may improve AD symptoms for a short period but so far lack the ability to prevent or halt this devastating disease. Additionally, we summarize some of the experimental approaches in AD therapy, which might lead to the development of more promising drugs in the future.
Pietrzik
Claus
C
Department of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Institute for Physiological Chemistry and Pathochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Medical School, 55099 Mainz, Germany.
Behl
Christian
C
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D005971:Glutamates; D006728:Hormones; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D016875:tau Proteins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human; D000109:Acetylcholine