Metal chelation as a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is a rapidly worsening public health problem. The current lack of effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease makes it imperative to find new pharmacotherapies. At present, the treatment of symptoms includes use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which enhance acetylcholine levels and improve cognitive functioning. Current reports provide evidence that the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is linked to the characteristic neocortical amyloid-β deposition, which may be mediated by abnormal metal interaction with Aβ as well as metal-mediated oxidative stress. In light of these observations, we have considered the development of drugs that target abnormal metal accumulati..