Perspectivas biotecnológicas en el diagnóstico y la terapia de la enfermedad de Alzheimer

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia in the elderly, is a growing global health concern with huge implications for individuals and society. AD is still defined by the combined presence of amyloid and tau. However, researchers are gradually moving away from the simple assumption of linear causality as proposed in the original amyloid hypothesis. Diagnosis has made significant progress in recent years: amyloid 42 and tau proteins have been established as core cerebrospinal biomarkers and novel candidate biomarkers have been identified, including amyloid oligomers, synaptic markers and neuroimaging technics. In the search for understanding the pathological mechanisms and keys to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, research is increasingly moving towards the earliest stage of the disease. Nowadays, several approved drugs ameliorate some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, although no current intervention can modify its underlying mechanisms. In this review we discuss the main developments in Alzheimer’s research and we highlight the fact that further research is required.