Therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies

Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2011:98:47-83. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-385506-0.00002-8.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is characterized histopathologically by the presence of plaques, mainly composed of Abeta amyloid and the tangles, mainly composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. To date, there is no treatment that can reverse the disease, and all the current therapeutics is directed to cope with the symptoms of the disease. Here we describe the efforts dedicated to attack the plaques and, in more detail, the process of neurofibrillary degeneration, linked to the presence of the hyperphosphorylated microtubule associated protein tau. We have identified the different putative targets for therapeutics and the current knowledge on them.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / immunology
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • tau Proteins