Abstract

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, RISK FACTORS, AND THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

*Sujata M. Halagekar, Dr. Vishnu A. Kangralkar and Aishwarya A. Nandyalkar

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline and behavioral disturbances. Its neuropathology is defined by extracellular β amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyper- phosphorylated tau, resulting in synaptic failure, neuroinflammation and neuronal death. Prevalence is projected to rise from 55 million in 2020 to 139 million by 2050, imposing immense socio economic burdens. Non modifiable (age, APOE ε4, familial mutations) and modifiable (cardiovascular health, lifestyle) factors interact to determine individual risk. Current therapies cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists provide only symptomatic relief. Recent advances in immunotherapies (aducanumab, lecanemab, donanemab) BACE inhibition and gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9) aim to modify disease progression. Additionally, natural compounds (Curcumin, resveratrol, Bacopa monnieri, Withania somnifera) show multi target neuroprotective effects. Integration of precision medicine, biomarker guided diagnosis and combination therapies represents the future path toward effective AD management.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Factors for Alzheimer’s and Therapeutic advances.