Title:Alzheimer’s Disease: Treatment of Multi-Factorial Disorders with Multi-
Target Approach
Volume: 23
Issue: 4
Author(s): Baljit Kaur, Vivesh and Palwinder Singh*
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143005, India
Keywords:
Multi-factorial disease, biochemistry of alzheimer’s disease, Amyloid precursor protein; beta-site APP cleaving enzyme, neurotransmitters, multi-target inhibitors.
Abstract: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that is almost incurable
with the existing therapeutic interventions. Due to the high-risk factors associated with
this disease, there is a global pursuit of new anti-AD agents. Herein, we explore the biochemical
pathways which are responsible for the initiation/propagation of the disease. It is observed that out
of the two isoforms of β-secretase, β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1)
and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 2 (BACE2) present in the brain, BACE1
plays the predominant role in the commencement of AD. Moreover, the catalytic activities of acetylcholinesterase
and butyrylcholinesterase regulate the concentration of neurotransmitters, and
they are needed to be kept under control during the signs of AD. Hence, these two enzymes also
serve as potential targets for the treatment of AD patients. Keeping in view the multifactorial nature
of the disease, we also reviewed the multitarget approach for the treatment of AD. It is tried
to identify the common structural features of those molecules which act on different cellular targets
during AD therapy.