Abnormal proteinaceous deposits are found in the brain of patients with many different neurodegenerative diseases. In many of these diseases, the production of the deposits is probably associated with disease pathogenesis. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the amyloid protein (Aâ), is produced by the action of enzymes known as secretases, which cleave the â-amyloid protein precursor. Aâ is secreted from cells in the brain, after which it oligomerizes and is deposited in the extracellular compartment of the brain to form amyloid plaques and amyloid angiopathy. Targeting the production of Aâ and its aggregation is now a key strategy in the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD. This review examines the potential of immunization strategies, cholesterol-lowering drugs, protease inhibitors and nicotinic drugs for the treatment of AD

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid; Cholesterol; Dementia; Immunotherapy; Nicotine; Secretas
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Neurosciences
Research Field:	Neurosciences not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions)
Objective Field:	Neurodegenerative Disorders Related to Ageing
UTAS Author:	Small, DH (Professor David Small)
ID Code:	63318
Year Published:	2004
Web of Science® Times Cited:	5
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2010-04-28
Last Modified:	2010-09-16
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