Recent advances in potential enzymes and their therapeutic inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

• Published in: Heliyon 2024-12, Vol.10 (23), p.e40756, Article e40756
• Main Authors: Vahid, Zahra Farajzadeh, Eskandani, Morteza, Dadashi, Hamed, Vandghanooni, Somayeh, Rashidi, Mohammad-Reza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Beta amyloid; Clinical studies; Inhibitors of enzymes; Multi-target drugs; Target enzymes
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40756

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a chronic neurodegenerative disease, is clinically characterized by loss of memory and learning ability among other neurological deficits. Amyloid plaques, hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and neurofibrillary tangles involve in AD etiology. Meanwhile, enzymes and their inhibitors have become the focus of research in AD treatment. In this review, the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AD were overviewed and various enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), β-secretase, γ-secretase, monoamine oxidase (MAO), and receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) were highlighted as potential targets for AD treatment. Several hybrid molecules with essential substructures derived from various chemotypes have demonstrated desired pharmacological activity. It is envisioned that the development of new drugs that inhibit enzymes involved in AD is a future trend in the management of the disease. [Display omitted] •The molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were overviewed.•Various enzymes involved in AD were highlighted.•The enzymes inhibitors for the treatment of AD were reviewed.•The future trends in the inhibition of related enzymes in AD have been discussed.