TY - JOUR
T1 - Alzheimer's disease
T2 - a comprehensive review of epidemiology, risk factors, symptoms diagnosis, management, caregiving, advanced treatments and associated challenges
AU - Safiri, Saeid
AU - Ghaffari Jolfayi, Amir
AU - Fazlollahi, Asra
AU - Morsali, Soroush
AU - Sarkesh, Aila
AU - Daei Sorkhabi, Amin
AU - Golabi, Behnam
AU - Aletaha, Reza
AU - Motlagh Asghari, Kimia
AU - Hamidi, Sana
AU - Mousavi, Seyed Ehsan
AU - Jamalkhani, Sepehr
AU - Karamzad, Nahid
AU - Shamekh, Ali
AU - Mohammadinasab, Reza
AU - Sullman, Mark J.M.
AU - Şahin, Fikrettin
AU - Kolahi, Ali Asghar
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Safiri, Ghaffari Jolfayi, Fazlollahi, Morsali, Sarkesh, Daei Sorkhabi, Golabi, Aletaha, Motlagh Asghari, Hamidi, Mousavi, Jamalkhani, Karamzad, Shamekh, Mohammadinasab, Sullman, Şahin and Kolahi.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and impaired reasoning. It is the leading cause of dementia in older adults, marked by the pathological accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These pathological changes lead to widespread neuronal damage, significantly impacting daily functioning and quality of life. Objective: This comprehensive review aims to explore various aspects of Alzheimer's disease, including its epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic advancements, management strategies, caregiving challenges, and emerging therapeutic interventions. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus, from their inception to May 2024. The search strategy incorporated a combination of keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms such as “Alzheimer's disease,” “epidemiology,” “risk factors,” “symptoms,” “diagnosis,” “management,” “caregiving,” “treatment,” and “novel therapies.” Boolean operators (AND, OR) were used to refine the search, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature on Alzheimer's disease. Results: AD is significantly influenced by genetic predispositions, such as the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, along with modifiable environmental factors like diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement. Diagnostic approaches have evolved with advances in neuroimaging techniques (MRI, PET), and biomarker analysis, allowing for earlier detection and intervention. The National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association have updated diagnostic criteria to include biomarker data, enhancing early diagnosis. Conclusion: The management of AD includes pharmacological treatments, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists, which provide symptomatic relief but do not slow disease progression. Emerging therapies, including amyloid-beta and tau-targeting treatments, gene therapy, and immunotherapy, offer potential for disease modification. The critical role of caregivers is underscored, as they face considerable emotional, physical, and financial burdens. Support programs, communication strategies, and educational interventions are essential for improving caregiving outcomes. While significant advancements have been made in understanding and managing AD, ongoing research is necessary to identify new therapeutic targets and enhance diagnostic and treatment strategies. A holistic approach, integrating clinical, genetic, and environmental factors, is essential for addressing the multifaceted challenges of Alzheimer's disease and improving outcomes for both patients and caregivers.
AB - Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and impaired reasoning. It is the leading cause of dementia in older adults, marked by the pathological accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These pathological changes lead to widespread neuronal damage, significantly impacting daily functioning and quality of life. Objective: This comprehensive review aims to explore various aspects of Alzheimer's disease, including its epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic advancements, management strategies, caregiving challenges, and emerging therapeutic interventions. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus, from their inception to May 2024. The search strategy incorporated a combination of keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms such as “Alzheimer's disease,” “epidemiology,” “risk factors,” “symptoms,” “diagnosis,” “management,” “caregiving,” “treatment,” and “novel therapies.” Boolean operators (AND, OR) were used to refine the search, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature on Alzheimer's disease. Results: AD is significantly influenced by genetic predispositions, such as the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, along with modifiable environmental factors like diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement. Diagnostic approaches have evolved with advances in neuroimaging techniques (MRI, PET), and biomarker analysis, allowing for earlier detection and intervention. The National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association have updated diagnostic criteria to include biomarker data, enhancing early diagnosis. Conclusion: The management of AD includes pharmacological treatments, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists, which provide symptomatic relief but do not slow disease progression. Emerging therapies, including amyloid-beta and tau-targeting treatments, gene therapy, and immunotherapy, offer potential for disease modification. The critical role of caregivers is underscored, as they face considerable emotional, physical, and financial burdens. Support programs, communication strategies, and educational interventions are essential for improving caregiving outcomes. While significant advancements have been made in understanding and managing AD, ongoing research is necessary to identify new therapeutic targets and enhance diagnostic and treatment strategies. A holistic approach, integrating clinical, genetic, and environmental factors, is essential for addressing the multifaceted challenges of Alzheimer's disease and improving outcomes for both patients and caregivers.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - caregivers
KW - diagnosis
KW - management
KW - risk factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85213700710&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fmed.2024.1474043
DO - 10.3389/fmed.2024.1474043
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85213700710
SN - 2296-858X
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Medicine
JF - Frontiers in Medicine
M1 - 1474043
ER -