At the heart of Alzheimer’s disease lies the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, formed by the abnormal buildup of beta-amyloid peptides. These plaques are believed to contribute significantly to the death of nerve cells, leading to the characteristic memory loss and cognitive decline seen in patients.
Immunotherapies and Amyloid Plaques
Researchers have developed immunotherapies, a class of drugs that aim to clear amyloid plaques from the brain. By targeting these plaques directly, immunotherapies seek to slow down or even halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Among the most promising immunotherapies are lecanemab, donanemab, and remternetug, currently undergoing rigorous testing in clinical trials.