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Is targeting beta-amyloid pathology, with immunotherapy, an effective treatment option for Alzheimer's disease?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2011

James O'Donovan
James O'Donovan*
Affiliation:
Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
*
Address for correspondence: James O'Donovan, 3 Creskeld Crescent, Bramhope, Leeds LS16 9EH. Email: james.o'[email protected]
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Summary

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the commonest form of dementia, estimated to affect 37 million people worldwide. Currently there is nothing to halt the progression of AD – treatment focuses largely on slowing the development of symptoms. More recently disease-modifying interventions, such as immunotherapy, have been investigated as their aim is to halt or even reverse symptoms by removing β-amyloid (Aβ) pathology. This paper assesses the developments made in this particular field, offers critical appraisal of important papers and assesses the viability of this potential form of treatment.

Keywords

Alzheimer's diseaseamyloidimmunotherapytreatment
Type
Neuropsychiatry of old age
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , November 2011 , pp. 340 - 345
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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