title: Immunotherapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia worldwide and is an emerging global epidemic. It is characterized by an imbalance between production and clearance of amyloid β (Aβ) and tau proteins. Oligomeric forms of Aβ and tau are believed to be the most toxic. Dramatic results from AD animal models showed great promise for active and passive immune therapies targeting Aβ. However, there is very limited evidence in human studies of the clinical benefits from these approaches. Immunotherapies targeting only tau pathology have had some success but are limited so far to mouse models. The majority of current methods is based on immunological targeting of a self-protein; hence, benefits need to be balanced against risks of stimulating excessive autoimmune toxic inflammation. For greater efficacy the next generation of vaccines needs to focus more on concurrently targeting all the intermediate toxic conformers of oligomeric Aβ and tau species.
authors: Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29(th) Street, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29(th) Street, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29(th) Street, New York, NY 10016, USA. Electronic address: thomas.wisniewski@nyumc.org.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Wisniewski
authors: Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29(th) Street, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Goñi
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000906:Antibodies; D016875:tau Proteins