Alzheimer's Disease therapeutics: current and future therapies

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pathology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is pathologically defined by amyloid plaques, leading to dementia in older adults.
• Current AD therapeutics primarily address symptoms, not the root causes, with limited success in halting disease progression.
• The precise mechanisms driving AD pathogenesis remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review established Alzheimer's Disease pathology.
• To discuss current pharmacological treatments, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor agonists.
• To explore emerging therapeutic targets addressing the underlying pathophysiology of AD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of Alzheimer's Disease pathology.
• Analysis of existing and novel pharmacological interventions for AD.
• Discussion of therapeutic strategies targeting disease mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Established treatments for Alzheimer's Disease focus on symptomatic relief.
• Recent advancements are elucidating AD pathophysiology, revealing new therapeutic targets.
• Novel therapies aim to address the underlying disease mechanisms, offering potential for disease modification.

Conclusions:

• Understanding Alzheimer's Disease pathology is crucial for developing effective treatments.
• Current treatments offer symptomatic benefits but do not halt disease progression.
• Novel therapeutic strategies targeting underlying mechanisms represent a promising future direction for Alzheimer's Disease management.