Precision therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease: Amyloid β-targeted foundations and multimodal...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and a significant unmet medical challenge, pathologically characterized by amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation, tau hyperphosphorylation, synaptic dysfunction, and chronic neuroinflammation. Although Aβ has long been a central therapeutic target, clinical translation has historically been hindered by late-stage intervention, inadequate blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, and the molecular heterogeneity of AD. Recent advances with Aβ-targeted monoclonal antibodies, particularly lecanemab and donanemab, have provided the first clinical evidence of disease modification, demonstrating robust amyloid clearance and measurable slowing of cognitive decline in early-stage AD. These results validate the Aβ hypothesis but also highlight persistent barriers, including amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), questions about the durability of benefit, challenges in patient stratification, and the high economic burden of biologics. To overcome these limitations, next-generation strategies are emerging that extend beyond single-pathway targeting toward multimodal and precision-based frameworks. Innovative approaches include tau-directed therapies to prevent the propagation of neurofibrillary tangles, immunomodulatory strategies to enhance microglial clearance of aggregated proteins, and neuroprotective interventions to counteract oxidative and inflammatory stress. Concurrently, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems are being engineered to efficiently traverse the BBB and deliver multifunctional payloads, while artificial intelligence (AI)- driven discovery platforms are accelerating target identification, biomarker integration, and patient stratification. Future perspectives emphasize the importance of preclinical-stage intervention, long-term efficacy trials, and the adoption of personalised treatment paradigms that integrate genomic, biomarker, and digital profiling to optimise outcomes. Collectively, these advances signal a paradigm shift in AD therapeutics, positioning Aβ-targeted therapies as a foundation while paving the way for combination strategies that more effectively address the disease's multifactorial nature.