Research Progress on Alzheimer's Disease with Classical Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulas

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by complex pathological changes and is a problem that cannot be ignored by the global public health system. Its main clinical manifestations include progressive cognitive impairment, mental and psychological changes, and, in advanced stages, paralysis and loss of self-care ability. The economic and psychological burdens imposed on AD patients and their caregivers have been progressively exacerbating, while the annual expenditures on AD treatment by nations worldwide and by the United Nations have demonstrated a consistent upward trend rather than a decline. The treatment of AD remains challenging, with currently limited therapeutic options available. The advantages of the multi-target, multi-component, safe, and low-toxicity characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have attracted public attention, providing ideas for the prevention and treatment of AD and for the development of new drugs. In this study, 27 TCM formulas reported to exhibit preventive and therapeutic effects on AD in basic or clinical research were identified and summarized. TCM can intervene in the progression of AD by clearing Aβ deposition, inhibiting Tau phosphorylation, reducing neuroinflammation, mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, and regulating gut microbiota. This review aims to provide evidence for further exploring the role and potential mechanisms of TCM in the prevention and treatment of AD, and to offer insights for the development of new anti-AD drugs.