Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease. Despite
intensive research, promising therapies have failed to translate to the clinic. This
chapter will review the prevailing mechanistic hypotheses to explain AD pathogenesis,
including the cholinergic, amyloid-cascade, inflammatory and metal dyshomeostasis
theories, present an update on the clinical developments in therapies targeting each of
the hypotheses, and highlight promising areas requiring further research.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Amyloid antibodies, Amyloid cascade
hypothesis, Cholinergic hypothesis, Clinical trials, COX inhibitors, Familial,
Metal homeostasis, Metal ionophores, Multi-targeting, Neuroinflammation,
Secretase modulators, Sporadic.
