The Drug Development Based on Pathogenetic Research in Alzheimer’s Disease

Neuropathologically, Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the presence of extracellular deposits of amyloid-β peptides, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and atrophy of the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. The research of pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease inspirits potential clinical drugs for treatment. To block the progression of the disease, drugs under development have to interfere with the pathogenic steps responsible for the clinical symptoms, including cholinergic deficit, calcium dysregulation, inflammation and oxidative damage, and the deposition of amyloid- β plaques and of neurofibrillary tangles. In this review, the pertinent literature about drugs targeted on relieving symptoms above is reviewed. We aim to discuss possible research priorities in the future.