Disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease: Challenges and hopes

Despite enormous efforts to develop disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD), effective therapies have yet to be found. We have endured failure for a number of reasons, such as low specificity in drug candidates, inaccurate diagnosis and incorrect timing in the intervention. To help overcome these problems, modern research findings have been incorporated into new criteria and guidelines for the clinical diagnosis of AD. In addition, attempts to intervene during the earliest stages of the disease are planned, as this is probably when AD is most receptive to disease-modifying therapies. We discuss these issues and provide perspective into the future of drug development.

Disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease: Challenges and hopes

Despite enormous efforts to develop disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD), effective therapies have yet to be found. We have endured failure for a number of reasons, such as low specificity in drug candidates, inaccurate diagnosis and incorrect timing in the intervention. To help overcome these problems, modern research findings have been incorporated into new criteria and guidelines for the clinical diagnosis of AD. In addition, attempts to intervene during the earliest stages of the disease are planned, as this is probably when AD is most receptive to disease-modifying therapies. We discuss these issues and provide perspective into the future of drug development.