Related Experiment Videos
Inflammation and Alzheimer disease
1Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology
|May 1, 1996
Summary
Inflammation plays a key role in Alzheimer disease progression. Anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone are being tested to see if they can slow disease advancement.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Alzheimer disease (AD) involves active inflammatory mechanisms.
- Elevated acute phase proteins and brain cytokines suggest a "cerebral acute phase response" contributing to amyloid deposition and neurodegeneration.
- Activated microglia and complement cascade activation indicate inflammatory involvement in AD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of inflammatory mechanisms in Alzheimer disease.
- To evaluate the potential of anti-inflammatory drugs for slowing AD progression.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of prednisone in Alzheimer disease patients.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter, parallel-design, placebo-controlled trial was initiated.
- The study involves administering prednisone to Alzheimer disease patients.
- Serum levels of acute phase proteins are monitored.
Main Results:
- Pilot studies indicate prednisone is well tolerated in AD patients.
- Prednisone treatment suppressed serum levels of acute phase proteins.
- A large-scale trial is underway to confirm these findings.
Conclusions:
- Inflammatory processes are integral to Alzheimer disease.
- Anti-inflammatory therapies, such as prednisone, show promise in managing AD.
- Further research is warranted to establish the therapeutic benefits of anti-inflammatory drugs in AD treatment.