神経科医: 臨床および治療ジャーナル

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Understanding Alzheimer's Disease: Current Insights and Future Perspectives

Demeyere S

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and behavioral changes. It is the most common cause of dementia, affecting millions of people worldwide, and poses significant challenges for both affected individuals and their caregivers. This abstract aims to provide a concise overview of the current understanding of AD, highlighting its etiology, pathology, clinical manifestations, and available treatment strategies. The etiology of AD involves complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates, specifically amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles, within the brain is considered a hallmark pathology of the disease. These pathological changes disrupt neuronal communication, leading to the cognitive impairments observed in AD. Clinically, AD is characterized by a progressive decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning abilities. As the disease advances, individuals may experience difficulties in performing daily activities and exhibit changes in mood, behavior, and personality. Early diagnosis is crucial for implementing appropriate interventions and support systems. Biomarkers such as cerebrospinal fluid analysis and neuroimaging techniques are being increasingly utilized to aid in early detection and differential diagnosis of AD. In recent years, significant research efforts have focused on developing disease-modifying therapies and identifying novel targets for intervention. Promising avenues include immunotherapies targeting amyloid-beta, tau-based therapies, and approaches aiming to reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Precision medicine approaches and personalized treatment strategies are also gaining traction, taking into account individual genetic profiles and disease subtypes.