Amyloid‐β immunotherapy for alzheimer disease: Is it now a long shot?. Issue 3 (28th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Panza, Francesco; Lozupone, Madia; Seripa, Davide; Imbimbo, Bruno P.
• Is Part Of: Annals of neurology. Volume 85:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 303
• Page End: 315
• Publication Date: 2019-01-28
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Pediatric neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.25410
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0364-5134

Abstract

Abstract : The amyloid‐β (Aβ) cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) holds that brain accumulation of Aβ initiates the disease process. Accordingly, drug research has targeted Aβ production, clearance, and deposition as therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, candidate drugs have failed to show clinical benefit in established, early, or prodromal disease, or in those with high AD risk. Currently, monoclonal antibodies specifically directed against the most neurotoxic Aβ forms are undergoing large‐scale trials to confirm initially encouraging results. However, recent findings on the normal physiology of Aβ suggest that accumulation may be compensatory rather than the pathological initiator. If this is true, alternative strategies will be needed to defeat this devastating disease. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:303–315.