Sunita Patnaik, Pratap Kumar Patra, Chinam Niranjan Patra, Krishna Chandra Panda
This review highlights the critical need for future AD research to bridge identified gaps in early detection, focus on improving early diagnosis, developing more effective treatments, refining existing drugs and therapies, and understanding the underlying disease progression mechanisms.
INTRODUCTION: The underlying association between multiple risk factors like age, preexisting diseases, infections, traumatic brain injuries, and certain genetic factors makes the diagnosis and treatment a challenge in AD. Identification of biomarkers and proper diagnosis of AD could make its management easier. Advances in diagnostic techniques like Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging have greatly improved the ability to identify, detect early, monitor disease progression, and manage its therapy.
METHODS: The recent therapeutic advancements in treatments encompass immunotherapies aimed at amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau proteins, novel drug delivery systems, non-pharmacological methodologies, and personalised medicine techniques, combination therapies, and non-invasive brain stimulation are important in the management of AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as galantamine, rivastigmine, and donepezil, are used to enhance cognitive performance and reduce confusion. Moderate to severe AD, memantine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) receptor antagonist, is prescribed. Researchers are looking into both active and passive vaccines to get antibodies to Aβ plaques, and monoclonal antibodies, such as Lecanemab and Donanemab, which are used to treat early-stage AD.
RESULTS: Ongoing research is focused on identifying new biomarkers and therapeutic targets, advancing gene therapy, and refining immunotherapeutic approaches for AD.
DISCUSSION: There is growing interest in comprehending the influence of lifestyle and environmental factors on the mitigation of AD risk. Ongoing research is essential to elucidate the complexity of AD pathophysiology and to create effective therapies.
CONCLUSION: This review highlights the critical need for future AD research to bridge identified gaps in early detection, focus on improving early diagnosis, developing more effective treatments, refining existing drugs and therapies, and understanding the underlying disease progression mechanisms.