A new direction for Alzheimer＇s research

• Published in: 中国神经再生研究：英文版 Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 190 - 193
• Main Author: James D. Weinstein
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: 机能障碍;氧化应力;测量工具;数据设置;研究开发;疾病;测试;病理学
• ISSN: 1673-5374

Despite decades of research, at present there is no curative therapy for Alzheimer＇s disease. Changes in the way new drugs are tested appear to be necessary. Three changes are presented here and will be discussed. The first change is that Alzheimer＇s disease must be considered a disease of four major pathological processes, not one. The four processes are： 1） vascular hy- poperfusion of the brain with associated mitochondrial dysfunction, 2） destructive protein inclusions, 3） uncontrolled oxidative stress, and 4） proinflammatory immune processes second- ary to microglial and astrocytic dysfunction in the brain. The second change recommended is to alter the standard cognitive measurement tools used to quantify mental decline in test patients. Specifically the Dementia Severity Rating Scale （DSRS） should supersede Mini-Mental State Examination （MMSE） and other popular tests, and a measurement scale developed in research should be used to produce a linear and non-irregular baseline. Finally, accepting the concept that four etiologies cause Alzheimer＇s disease leads to the last necessary change, that new thera- pies must be employed directed against all four causes, likely as a combination. There are drugs ready to be employed in such a combinations which are available and used clinically for other purposes so can be used ＂offlabel＂ and one such combination is suggested.