Current advances in research in Alzheimer's disease

The pace of research into Alzheimer's disease has quickened remarkably in the last few years as it has entered the realms of genetics and molecular biology. The nature of the protein giving rise to the amyloid deposits in senile plaques has been identified together with its location on chrosome 21, which is also the chromosome (although at a different locus) on which the abnormality in the familial form of the disease is found. Together with previous neuropathological and neurochemical data implicating specific neuronal populations - particularly the basal forebrain cholinergic system projecting to the cortex - in cardinal clinical features of the disease such as memory loss, it would seem that scientists are on the verge of understanding the foundamental nature of the disease process. However, in the absence of any clues regarding the cause of the disease in the predominantly "sporadic" cases and of any effective clinical treatment, new insights are clearly urgently needed. The present review highlights currently active areas of research and attempts to outline unexplored areas where novel approaches are now required.