Work

100 Years and Counting: Prospects for Defeating Alzheimer's Disease

Year: 2006

Type: review

Abstract: This week marks a century since the first description of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite approval of several drugs for AD, the disease continues to rob millions of their memories and their lives. Fortunately, many new therapies directly targeting the mechanisms underlying AD are now in the pipeline. Among the investigative AD therapies in clinical trials are several strategies to block pathogenic amyloid-beta peptides and to rescue vulnerable neurons from degeneration. Complementary but less mature strategies aim to prevent the copathogenic effects of apolipoprotein E and the microtubule-associated protein tau. New insights into selective neuronal vulnerability and the link between aging and AD may provide additional entry points for therapeutic interventions. The predicted increase in AD cases over the next few decades makes the development of better treatments a matter of utmost importance and urgency.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1132813

Authors: Erik D. Roberson, Lennart Mucke

Institution: University of California, San Francisco

Language: English

Topic: Alzheimer's disease research and treatments

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke