Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

Dementia, the most common cause of which is Alzheimer's disease, is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function due to a loss of neurons in the central nervous system. These disorders are linked to the aggregation of a number of proteins in the brain, the pathobiology of which have been illuminated by the study of a number of familial forms of disease. Despite extensive efforts, to date no disease-modifying therapy exists for the neurodegenerative dementias—although some symptomatic treatments are available. Based on a combination of human genetics and animal models for disease, there are a number of clinical trials ongoing testing novel therapeutics agents for these disorders.