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Review
. 2018 Jul 31:7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1161.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.14506.1. eCollection 2018.

Current understanding of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment

Jason Weller  1   2 , Andrew Budson  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Current understanding of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment

Jason Weller et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, with the prevalence continuing to grow in part because of the aging world population. This neurodegenerative disease process is characterized classically by two hallmark pathologies: β-amyloid plaque deposition and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau. Diagnosis is based upon clinical presentation fulfilling several criteria as well as fluid and imaging biomarkers. Treatment is currently targeted toward symptomatic therapy, although trials are underway that aim to reduce the production and overall burden of pathology within the brain. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the clinical evaluation and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, with updates regarding clinical trials still in progress.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; amyloid; dementia; tau.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: Jason Weller has no competing interests to declare. Andrew Budson is a consultant and speaker for General Electric, Lilly, and Axovant and is a clinical trial investigator for Biogen, Lilly, vTv therapeutics, and Axovant.No competing interests were disclosed.No competing interests were disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Memory and Alzheimer’s disease.
Rate of decline of memory (M) over time (t, months to years). Memory declines slowly in normal aging (1). Alzheimer’s disease is marked by more rapid cognitive decline, often starting earlier in life (2). Current therapies enhance cognition without changing the rate of decline in AD (3). The anticipated effect of novel therapies is reduction in the rate of decline (4).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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