Aβ–focused approach

Abstract

At present, the direction of research and therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is shifting from conventional neurotransmitter approach to pathological and biochemical approach aimed at disease–modifying therapy (DMT). Basic and clinical researches aiming at anti–amyloid effects based on the amyloid hypothesis have been mainly carried out at the present. Although it was previously thought that insoluble fibrils of amyloid β–protein (Aβ), which accumulates as amyloid in the brain, exert toxicity, recently attention has been focused on the study of oligomers and protofibrils, which are more toxic aggregates of Aβ. The developments of anti–Aβ antibodies targeting these Aβ aggregates are ongoing. In addition, it is considered that administration of DMT from the early stage or preclinical stage of AD patients will progress.