Molecular biology of Alzheimer's dementia and its clinical relevance to early diagnosis and new therapeutic strategies

Over the past few years, molecular biological research has considerably dee pened our understanding of the pathophysiological basis of Alzheimer's deme ntia (AD), Although different genetic origins of the disease have been iden tified, all of the findings point to a common terminal sequence in familiar AD. This consists of an increased production of B-amyloid peptides from P- amyloid precursor protein. For the cases of sporadic AD, which far outweigh the number of cases of familiar AD, an impaired catabolism of the P-amyloi d peptides may also be pathophysiologically decisive according to the lates t findings, Research into the molecular level of AD makes it possible to id entify points of attack for rational drug treatment of the disease, while m olecular markers of AD are increasingly being used as a part of early and d ifferential neurochemical diagnostics. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Bas el.