Insights into the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer's disease: a role for mononuclear phagocyte-associated inflammation and neurotoxicity.

Since the first description of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 1907, significant progress was made into understanding disease pathophysiology. The enormous effort in AD research has translated into the discovery of genetic linkages for disease, into elucidating the structure and function of the etiologic beta-amyloid protein, and into unraveling the seemingly complex neuroimmunological cascade that affects neuronal dysfunction. Although effective therapies do not currently exist, many are being developed. We propose that the neuropathogenesis of AD, in measure, revolves around the immunological activation of glial cells, which in turn leads to alterations in inflammatory neurotoxin production, and ultimately to neuronal injury and death. Elucidating the mechanisms involved in such glial cell immune activation should provide valuable insights into understanding the disease process and in providing effective therapeutics to prevent and/or retard the devastating neurodegeneration that afflicts so many of our elderly.