Current and Future Strategies for AD Therapy
Agbo John *
Department of Pharmacology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
Omale O. Francis
Department of Pharmacology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
Hassan D. Mhya
Department of Biochemistry, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
Awodele Olufunsho
Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is an insidious disease of the brain. It is a degenerative and intractable neurological disorder that causes deterioration of memory, judgment, and reasoning in the elderly. About 46.8 million people worldwide are suffering from AD; prevalence is expected to affect 131.5 million by 2050. It is also characterized by myriad of syndrome, diverse theories and multi-factorial causes. It is a syndrome rather than a disease. Pathological hallmarks include; deposition of GPR3 protein in the brain which augment toxic amyloid plaques, abnormal deposition of tau proteins in neurons and its hyperphosphorylation into NFTs, increased levels of toxic amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers, neuronal and vascular death due to oxidative stress, inflammation or excessive action of the brain’s immune cells-glial, among others. Currently there is no cure for it and much of the treatments have only been able to delay the progression of the disease. However, this paper attempt to provide update information on available pharmacological regimens and their effectiveness in curtailing AD as well as future therapeutic target.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, pharmacological regimen, effectiveness, future therapeutic target