IBRO Neuroscience Reports (Jun 2023)

Review of Alzheimer’s disease drugs and their relationship with neuron-glia interaction

  • Michael Kunle Ajenikoko,
  • Abayomi Oyeyemi Ajagbe,
  • Oluwanisola Akanji Onigbinde,
  • Akeem Ayodeji Okesina,
  • Ahmad Adekilekun Tijani

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14
pp. 64 – 76

Abstract

Read online

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. Because Alzheimer's disease has no known treatment, sufferers and their caregivers must concentrate on symptom management. Astrocytes and microglia are now known to play distinct physiological roles in synaptic function, the blood-brain barrier, and neurovascular coupling. Consequently, the search for drugs that can slow the degenerative process in dementia sufferers continues because existing drugs are designed to alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Drugs that address pathological changes without interfering with the normal function of glia, such as eliminating amyloid-beta deposits, are prospective treatments for neuroinflammatory illnesses. Because neuron-astrocytes-microglia interactions are so complex, developing effective, preventive, and therapeutic medications for AD will necessitate novel methodologies and strategic targets. This review focused on existing medications used in treating AD amongst which include Donepezil, Choline Alphoscerate, Galantamine, Dextromethorphan, palmitoylethanolamide, citalopram, resveratrol, and solanezumab. This review summarizes the effects of these drugs on neurons, astrocytes, and microglia interactions based on their pharmacokinetic properties, mechanism of action, dosing, and clinical presentations.

Keywords