Dual and Multi-Drug Approaches in Alzheimer’s disease: Managing the Chronic Challenge

Abstract

The development of tau tangles and amyloid-β plaques, along with a steady decline in cognitive function, are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a complicated neurological disorder. The lack of substantial therapeutic benefits from single-drug therapy, despite much research, has led to a move toward combination medicines that target several disease pathways at once.

According to recent research, treating tau and amyloid problems together may improve results. To reduce both types of harmful accumulation, anti-amyloid antibodies, such as aducanumab and lecanemab, are being studied in combination with tau inhibitors. Researchers are investigating treatments that combine anti-inflammatory drugs with neuroprotective substances that increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as neuroinflammation is a major contributor in the development of AD. Targeting circulatory and metabolic dysfunctions, which are connected to neuronal degeneration, is another intriguing strategy. To improve general brain resilience, medications that target insulin resistance, mitochondrial function, and cerebrovascular health are being investigated in addition to the usual treatment for AD. Neurotrophic support is also being used in combination strategies to enhance cholinergic and NMDA-based drugs, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA antagonists like memantine.