Alzheimer's disease: addressing a twenty-first century plague

作者：Dobson Christopher M^*

来源：Rendiconti Lincei-scienze Fisiche E Naturali, 2015, 26(3): 251-262.

DOI：10.1007/s12210-015-0453-y

• Protein misfolding
• Amyloid formation
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Protein homeostasis
• Aggregation mechanisms

Alzheimer's disease represents one of the greatest challenges to the social fabric and health care systems of the world since the great plagues of the Middle Ages. At the present time, there are some 40 million sufferers from this disease worldwide, but it is predicted that this number will rise to nearly 150 million by 2050. The predominant reason for this rapidly increasing prevalence is the increase in longevity that has resulted from the tremendous advances in public health and hygiene and in medical and surgical interventions over the last century. This article discusses recent progress in our understanding of the molecular origins of Alzheimer's disease and emerging ideas for new and rational therapeutic strategies by which to combat its onset and progression.

• 出版日期2015-9