Biological Markers in Alzheimer’s Disease
Year: 2004
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: The recently completed “decade of the brain” witnessed fundamental advances in many areas of basic and clinical neurosciences, but few fields saw greater progress than investigations on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1, and presenilin-2 genes that result in autosomal dominant familial AD were identified in the early part of the decade (1). These discoveries made possible the development of transgenic animals, which provide the best available experimental models to study AD neuropathology and therapeutics (2). More recently, the enzymes involved in processing APP—β-secretase and γ-secretase—have been identified. Specific inhibitors of these proteases have been developed and are nearing or undergoing clinical trials. Further, much has been learned about inflammatory reactions in brain tissue during the course of AD, and both epidemiologically and animal model-based experimental observations suggest that anti-inflammatory or immunological strategies may be effective in ameliorating this devastating disease (3–6). Clinical trials testing these therapies are under development.
Source: Humana Press eBooks
Authors: Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, Fred Baskin
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W105998754