Mechanism-based treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
Treatment for Alzheimer's disease is entering a new and exciting phase, with several new drugs beginning clinical trials. Many of these new therapies are based on our best current understanding of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and are designed to try to either slow or halt the progression of the disease. There are several different theories underlying the current efforts, and these are briefly reviewed. Therapies directed against some aspect of beta-amyloid formation, against neurofibrillary tangle formation and against the inflammatory response are all considered, as are the problems associated with each area. It is as yet unclear which, if any, of these approaches will be successful, but the high level of activity in each of these three fields provides some hope that an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease is on the horizon.
Davies
Peter
P
Litwin-Zucker Center for Research on Alzheimer's Disease, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA. pdavies@nshs.edu
Koppel
Jeremy
J
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016874:Neurofibrillary Tangles / Q000473:pathology; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000906:Antibodies; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016875:tau Proteins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases