Alzheimer – Mechanismen und therapeutische Ansätze. Warum wir im Alter dement werden

Alzheimer's disease is an age‐dependent neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by the accumulation of Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid β‐peptide is responsible for the massive neuronal cell death and is generated from the Amyloid precursor protein by proteolysis. Secretases generate Amyloid β‐peptide in a physiologically normal pathway. Secretases are targets for therapeutic intervention, since their inhibition leads to a dramatic reduction of Amyloid β‐peptide and at least in animal models to memory stabilization. Similarly vaccination against Aβ leads to a significant reduction of the amyloid plaque burdon. The pros and cons of current therapeutic efforts are discusses based on first results from clinical trials.