Optimizing Antibody-Based Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease: From Clinical Limitations to Molecular Engineering...

Antibody-based immunotherapy represents one of the most promising disease-modifying strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent anti-amyloid-β (Aβ) antibodies have achieved robust plaque clearance and modest cognitive benefits in early AD, establishing clinical proof of concept. However, limited efficacy and safety concerns, particularly amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), continue to restrict their therapeutic potential. This review outlines the current clinical status of antibody therapies targeting Aβ, tau, and neuroinflammatory pathways, and summarizes key antibody optimization strategies, including aggregation-state-selective targeting, Fc engineering, brain shuttle technologies, nanobody platforms, and nanotechnology-enabled delivery. We further discuss emerging concepts from tumor immunotherapy, such as antibody-guided protein degradation and conditionally active biologics, as potential avenues for next-generation AD treatment.