Not to mention the various explanations and speculations for the reasons of AD such as abnormal excitation of the glutamate system and mitochondrial dysfunction and others.
Although, despite the continuous stumble to deliver significant benefits and effective treatment for this increasingly severe global ageing situation, more therapies to attenuate or ameliorate the disease course are urgently needed based on the knowledge of the underlying pathogenesis of AD, which is the missing link in this illness. Thus, with the loss of horizon and frameworks to determine the causes of the disease, researchers narrowly focused on thinking about the amyloid hypothesis without focusing more deeply outside the box. Millions of millions of dollars have been poured into the discovery of efficient cures for AD aimed at reducing amyloid – thus far, to no avail.
The possibility of involvement of other processes such as the immune system in AD remained emarginated, when in fact, many immune processes such as phagocytosis aid in the reduction of AD pathologies, and on the contrary, dysfunction of the immune system has largely been painted as detrimental to AD pathology.
Author(s) Details:
Abdalla Bowirrat
Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel.
Aia Bowirrat M. D.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hasharon Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikwa, Israel.
Recent Global Research Developments in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Holistic Review of Causes and Treatments
New Targets and Biomarkers
Recent research from Emory University has identified new targets and biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. The study suggests that amyloid beta deposits act as scaffolds for other proteins, which may be the actual culprits causing brain cell damage [1] . This discovery could lead to novel therapies targeting these proteins.
Disease-Modifying Drugs
A significant development in Alzheimer’s treatment is the approval of lecanemab, an antibody medication that reduces β-amyloid protein build-up in the brain. This drug has shown a 27% slowing of cognitive decline in early-stage Alzheimer’s patients[2] . This approach represents a shift towards disease-modifying drugs that target the root causes rather than just the symptoms.
Comprehensive Review on Causes and Treatments
A review published in MDPI highlights the various pathogenic mechanisms involved in Alzheimer’s, such as Aβ and tau aggregation, inflammation, and oxidative damage. The review also discusses recent developments in compounds that could prevent or treat Alzheimer’s by targeting these mechanisms [3].
NIH Research Progress Report
The 2024 NIH Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Research Progress Report covers advances in drug development, behavioral and lifestyle interventions, cognitive assessments, and biomarkers. It emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and intervention to slow disease progression [4].
Epidemiology and Clinical Progression
A review of recent literature on the epidemiology and clinical progression of Alzheimer’s disease provides insights into the disease’s prevalence and progression across different regions, including North America, Europe, and Asia5. This review helps in understanding the global impact and variations in Alzheimer’s disease.
References
- In breakthrough Alzheimer’s discovery, research team finds new targets and biomarkers for potential novel therapies
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240812123217.htm - Researchers call for a major rethink of how Alzheimer’s treatments are evaluated
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00756-8 - Breijyeh Z, Karaman R. Comprehensive Review on Alzheimer’s Disease: Causes and Treatment. Molecules. 2020; 25(24):5789. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25245789
- 2024 NIH Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Research Progress Report: Advances and Achievements
https://www.nia.nih.gov/about/2024-nih-dementia-research-progress-report
