Multiple AD-related proteins and signaling components

Multiple AD-related proteins and signaling components is a collective designation for the diverse array of molecular entities implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. This group primarily includes amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides and tau proteins, which are the central components of the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that characterize AD pathology (Jack et al., 2018, Alzheimer's & Dementia). It also encompasses enzymes like BACE1 and gamma-secretase, which are involved in Aβ production, as well as neurotransmitter-related targets such as acetylcholinesterase and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (Scheltens et al., 2021, Lancet). Furthermore, signaling components involved in neuroinflammation, such as the TREM2 receptor on microglia, are increasingly recognized as critical targets within this category (Knopman et al., 2021, Nature Reviews Disease Primers). Therapeutic interventions targeting these components range from small-molecule inhibitors and antagonists to monoclonal antibodies designed to clear protein aggregates (Cummings et al., 2024, Alzheimer's & Dementia). Because this term aggregates many distinct proteins and pathways rather than identifying a single molecular entity, it is used as a broad classification for AD-related drug discovery efforts.

Other names

Alzheimer's disease-associated proteinsAD signaling pathwaysAlzheimer's disease targets

Various mechanisms including inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, antagonism of NMDA receptors, and clearance of amyloid-beta plaques via monoclonal antibodies.