Disease-modifying approaches to Alzheimer's disease: Challenges and opportunities-Lessons from donepezil therapy

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The era of disease modification as a therapeutic option for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is upon us. With dozens of novel drugs in development, there is more need than ever to develop biomarkers that distinguish normal aging from AD and AD from other dementias, track changes over time as disease progresses, and respond to interventions. Future trials will need to weight biomarker outcomes equal to cognitive outcomes especially when the biomarkers are linked to specific mechanisms, such as changes to beta amyloid (Aβ) deposition or brain volume. Since the advent of donepezil as a treatment for AD, new mechanisms of action of this molecule have been discovered. In this perspective, we review trial design and discuss the use of biomarkers by using lessons learned from previous trials conducted with cholinergic therapy. © 2008 The Alzheimer's Association.

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Publication Title

Alzheimer's and Dementia

ISSN

15525260

Volume

4

Issue

1 SUPPL. 1

PubMed ID

18631986

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.jalz.2007.11.013

Share

COinS