Cuello: Pharmacological Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Therapeutics

Another volume dealing with the neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease might seem superfluous, considering the attention that has been given to this disorder in recent years. Yet, this book provides something new: a highly desirable collection of papers that describe the large variety of attempts at treatment, based on clinical or pathological analysis. We have an evaluation of experience with many targets. The disappearance of much of the acetylcholine from certain brain centers in Alzheimer’s disease keeps anticholinesterases in the limelight. But there are other specific targets including muscarinic receptors, glutamate receptors, apolipoprotein E, and other proteins known to play some role in the aging process. Some investigators focus on immunological processes; others look for means of overcoming destructive oxidant reactions that occur in the brain, the downside of our oxygen-dependent lives.

The point is that basic research into cerebral processes is guiding the attempts at therapy. One is reminded of the success attained by laboratory studies in the treatment of another devastating disease of the nervous system, namely, Parkinson disease. In that case, one clue from laboratory research led to another, and ultimately to the introduction of L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy-Lphenylalanine) as a specific therapeutic agent, followed by the discovery of substitutes for this amino acid, i.e., the various dopamine agonists. Without minimizing the effort required to achieve a corresponding desirable result in the case of Alzheimer’s disease, this analogy is presented as encouragement to investigators of the aging brain.
The approach or approaches that will ultimately prevail in the successful attack on Alzheimer’s disease is unpredictable. But the contributions in this volume, as they focus attention on potential therapies, can be expected to aid significantly in finding means to overcome a disease that at present takes such a toll of individuals and of society.

Contents 
1. Overview of the Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology and Potential Therapeutic Targets
2. Trial Designs and Outcomes to Monitor Novel Therapeutics in Alzheimer’s Disease
3. The Pharmacological Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease with Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine
4. M1 Muscarinic Agonists: A Comprehensive Therapy Against Major Hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease
5. Cholinergic Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease: Basis for Nerve Growth Factor Therapy
6. The Rationale for Glutamatergic Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease
7. Secretases as Pharmacological Targets in Alzheimer’s dIsease
8. G-Secretase as a Target for Alzheimer’s Disease
9. The Rationale for an Immunological Approach to Alzheimer’s Therapeutics
10. Neuroinflammation, Alzheimer Disease, and Other Aging Disorders
11. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Derived Ab42-Lowering Molecules for Treatment and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
12. The Potential Application of Antioxidant Agents in Alzheimer Disease Therapeutics
13. Apolipoprotein E: A Potent Gene-Based Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease
14. Tau Pathology as a Target in Alzheimer’s Therapeutics 
15. Design of Inhibitors of Amyloid-B Misfolding and Aggregation for Alzheimer’s Therapy
16. Potential Applications of Glycosaminoglycan related Compounds in Alzheimer’s Disease
17. Multifunctional Neuroprotective Drugs for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
18. Interpreting Clinical Studies of Putative Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Case of Statins and NSAIDS
Index

Book Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (October 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387715215
• ISBN-13: 978-0387715216
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches

List Price: $159.00