Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutics: New Approaches to an Ageing Problem

• Published in: IUBMB life 2004-04, Vol.56 (4), p.203-208
• Main Authors: Small, David H., Losic, Dusan, Martin, Lisandra L., Turner, Bradley J., Friedhuber, Anna, Aguilar, Marie‐Isabel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology; Alzheimer Disease - therapy; Alzheimer Vaccines - immunology; Alzheimer's disease; amyloid; Amyloid beta-Peptides - metabolism; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; cholesterol; dementia; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; immunotherapy; nicotine; Protease Nexins; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Nicotinic - chemistry; secretase
• ISSN: 1521-6543; 1521-6551
• DOI: 10.1080/15216540410001709211

Abnormal proteinaceous deposits are found in the brain of patients with many different neurodegenerative diseases. In many of these diseases, the production of the deposits is probably associated with disease pathogenesis. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the amyloid protein (Aβ), is produced by the action of enzymes known as secretases, which cleave the β‐amyloid protein precursor. Aβ is secreted from cells in the brain, after which it oligomerizes and is deposited in the extracellular compartment of the brain to form amyloid plaques and amyloid angiopathy. Targeting the production of Aβ and its aggregation is now a key strategy in the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD. This review examines the potential of immunization strategies, cholesterol‐lowering drugs, protease inhibitors and nicotinic drugs for the treatment of AD. IUBMB Life, 56: 203‐208, 2004