Abstract
The increase in the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), is a consequence of the world′s population aging but unfortunately, existing treatments are only effective at delaying some of the symptoms and for a limited time. Despite huge efforts by both academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies, no disease-modifying drugs have been brought to the market in the last decades. Recently, several studies shed light on Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) as possible new targets for AD treatment. In the present review we summarized preclinical and clinical findings regarding the role of CAs and their inhibitors/activators on cognition, aging and neurodegeneration and we discuss future challenges and opportunities in the field.
Highlights
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent type of dementia
The projections emerging from current data on the incidence and prevalence of dementia indicate that the number of people affected will continue to increase, the associated budgets are likely to increase
We found that systemic administration of D-PHE, significantly augmented carbonic anhydrases (CAs) activity measured in brain homogenates and improved animals’ performances in the memory task
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent type of dementia. Dementia, an umbrella term to define a collection of symptoms including communication, thinking and memory impairments, has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) through the Mental Health Gap Action Programme, as a priority condition. Even though the aetiology of AD is not completely understood, the “amyloid hypothesis” indicates a central role for Aβ in plaques formation and in the cascade leading to the other pathological hallmarks of the disease including tangle formation and neuronal cell death [9]. Based on this hypothesis numerous animal models, diagnostics and therapeutics for AD were generated. Prevention is still considered a valid strategy to avoid or delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by amyloid deposits. These findings, as well as future challenges and perspectives in the field, will be discussed in this review
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