Metal homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal dysfunction and the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain. Although the pathological processes resulting in the onset and progression of AD are not well understood, there is a growing body of evidence to support a central role for biometals in many critical aspects of the illness. Recent reports have described the exciting development of potential therapeutic agents based on the modulation of metal bioavailability. The metal ligand, clioquinol has demonstrated promising results in animal models and small clinical trials and a new generation of metal ligand-based therapeutics are currently under development. However, further research is necessary to fully understand the complex and interdependent pathways of biometal homeostasis and amyloid metabolism in AD. This information will be vital for the development of safe and effective metal-based pharmaceuticals for the treatment of AD and, potentially, other neurodegenerative disorders.