Journal of neurologyOct 17, 2025

New treatment approaches for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimers & Treatments Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jan 1, 2026

Abstract

Amyloid-targeted immunotherapies like lecanemab and donanemab have shown promise in slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease involves complex interactions between amyloid-beta aggregation, tau tangles, and various risk factors.
The Apolipoprotein E (APOE4) allele, neuroinflammation, and vascular issues may worsen disease progression.
Approved immunotherapies target amyloid plaques but require monitoring for potential adverse effects.
Emerging treatments are being developed to address tau pathology and APOE-related risk.
Non-drug approaches, including lifestyle changes, could significantly help in delaying disease progression.

Simplified

The past several decades have yielded deeper insights into the multifactorial pathogenesis and intervention strategies of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD pathogenesis involves a complex interplay of multiple factors, where the amyloid-beta hypothesis centers on abnormal Amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation triggering neurotoxicity, and the tau hypothesis focuses on hyperphosphorylated tau forming neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), while key risk modifiers, including the Apolipoprotein E (APOE4) allele, neuroinflammation, and vascular impairment, further exacerbate disease progression. This review addresses the advancement of AD therapeutic strategies, where Aβ-targeted immunotherapies, such as the approved lecanemab and donanemab, represent a major breakthrough by clearing amyloid plaques and slowing cognitive decline, though requiring careful monitoring for adverse effects like amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), and emerging approaches targeting tau pathology and APOE are under active investigation. It is also discussed that non-pharmacological strategies offer crucial complementary value, as integrated lifestyle interventions combining physical exercise, cognitive training, diet adherence, sleep optimization, and social engagement provide multidimensional benefits for disease delay through cost-effective and accessible means, establishing them as fundamental components of comprehensive AD management.

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Declarations. Conflicts of interest: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

PubMed

New treatment approaches for Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

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Abstract

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