Alzheimer’s disease beyond amyloid: strategies for future therapeutic interventions
Jiong Shi, Marwan N. Sabbagh, Bruno Vellas
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases encompass a variety of medical conditions that affect the survival and function of neurons in the brain. Neuronal loss often results in a decline of cognitive function and advances to dementia. Dementia is the common denominator of neurodegenerative diseases. The World Health Organization estimated that the number of people living with dementia worldwide in 2015 was 47.47 million. As the population ages, this number is expected to reach 75.63 million in 2030 and 135.46 million in 2050. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older people. The natural course of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, results in significant disability and dependence. The effect on care givers and the public health system is staggering. The total estimated costs of dementia were $604bn (471bn; 519bn) in 2010, roughly 1% of the world's gross domestic product (www.who.int). No disease modifying treatment exists for dementia.