Dementia Japan 26:300-310, 2012

Targeting Aβ oligomers for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Takami Tomiyama

Department of Neuroscience, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine

    Alzheimer's disease is thought to begin with synaptic dysfunction caused by soluble Aβ oligomers.  Elimination of the influence of Aβ oligomers is therefore a reasonable treatment for this disease.  There are three possible strategies to achieve this goal;1) inhibition of oligomer formation or growth, 2) protection of neurons from oligomer toxicity by interfering with oligomers, oligomer receptors, or intracellular signaling, and 3) enhancement of oligomer clearance by inducing Aβ-degrading enzymes, promoting Aβ efflux from the brain, or accelerating Aβ conversion from toxic oligomers to nontoxic fibrils.  Here, I overview candidate drugs targeting Aβ oligomers based on each strategy.

Address correspondence to Dr. Takami Tomiyama, Department of Neuroscience, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine (1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan)