The essential elements of Alzheimer's disease

Treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) directed against the prominent amyloid plaque neuropathology are yet to be proved effective despite many phase 3 clinical trials. There are several other neurochemical abnormalities that occur in the AD brain that warrant renewed emphasis as potential therapeutic targets for this disease. Among those are the elementomic signatures of iron, copper, zinc, and selenium. Here, we review these essential elements of AD for their broad potential to contribute to Alzheimer's pathophysiology, and we also highlight more recent attempts to translate these findings into therapeutics. A reinspection of large bodies of discovery in the AD field, such as this, may inspire new thinking about pathogenesis and therapeutic targets.

Automated summary

Despite numerous phase 3 clinical trials targeting amyloid plaque in AD treatment, their effectiveness remains uncertain. This study highlights the importance of other neurochemical abnormalities in the AD brain as potential therapeutic targets, focusing on elementomic signatures of essential elements like iron, copper, zinc, and selenium. Revisiting discoveries in the AD field may offer new insights into pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies.