Diseases

Alzheimer’s Disease

An Irreversible Neurodegenerative disorder, a Major Challenge for Public Health

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder affecting around 44 million people worldwide. It is characterized by progressive death of neurons in certain brain structures. This neuronal loss causes disorders of thought, memory, personality, and behavior. Most commonly, AD’s symptoms first appear when the patient is in their mid-60s (late-onset AD). Early-onset AD occurs in people aged between age 30 and mid-60s but is very rare.

The disease generally progresses and worsens until the individual dies. The average survival time is 3-4 years if diagnosed when the person is over 80 but can reach 10 years if the person is diagnosed earlier.

Common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

Memory loss that impacts daily life

Disorientation

Difficulty completing normal daily tasks

Repeating questions

Getting lost or wandering

Personality changes

Confusion

Inability to recognize familiar people

Rapid mood changes

Early symptoms of AD, such as memory issues and partial loss of certain cognitive abilities, may go unnoticed in the early phase of the disease. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms become more noticeable and ultimately interfere with daily life. Difficulties with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and eating, gradually become more challenging. Eventually, people with AD need support from others to manage such tasks. AD also causes a general deterioration in health, including increased frailty. The most common cause of death in AD patients is pneumonia caused by a deterioration of the immune system, the patient losing weight, and the increasing risk of throat and lung infections.

There is currently no known cure for AD. Current approaches focus on helping people maintain mental function, manage behavioral symptoms, and slow down the symptoms of the disease.

About PXT864

PXT864 is a novel synergistic combination of baclofen and acamprosate given as a pill twice a day. It is currently being developed in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and is ready to enter a Phase 2 clinical trial in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

FAQ

How common is Alzheimer’s disease?

What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease?

Increasing age is the greatest known risk factor for AD. AD is not part of the normal aging process, but the likelihood of developing AD increases as you get older. Other risk factors include family history and genetics, gender (AD is more common in women), Down's syndrome, previous head trauma, and certain lifestyle and heart-health–related activities, including lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

What are the causes of Alzheimer’s disease?

Certain brain proteins fail to function normally in patients with AD, disrupting the work of neurons and unleashing a series of toxic events, resulting in neuronal damage. The two main types of brain lesions involved in AD are plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Plaques are clusters of amyloid proteins that are toxic to neurons. Neurofibrillary tangles are made of tau proteins that congregate abnormally, which are also toxic to cells. This damage typically starts in the region of the brain that controls memory, but the loss of neurons then spreads in a somewhat predictable pattern to other regions of the brain. In advanced stages, the size of the brain has been shown to be greatly diminished.

How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?

There is currently no known cure for AD. Moreover, since AD is complex, it is unlikely that only one drug or intervention will successfully treat it. Current approaches focus on helping people maintain mental function, manage behavioral symptoms, and slow down the symptoms of disease. Several prescription drugs are currently approved to treat people who have been diagnosed with AD. Most medicines work best to slow down symptoms in people in the early or middle stages of Alzheimer’s. Treating the symptoms of AD can provide people with comfort, dignity, and independence for a longer period of time, and can also assist their caregivers.

What are the differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?

What is Pharnext's program under development in Alzheimer’s disease?

References

National Institute on Aging Website. What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Available at:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-alzheimers-disease. Accessed Oct. 11, 2019.
Lane CA, Hardy J, Schott JM. Alzheimer’s disease. Eur J Neurol. 2018;25:59-70.
Mayo Clinic Website Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms & Causes. Available at:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447. Accessed Oct. 11, 2019.
Alzheimer Europe Website. Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Dementia. Available at:
https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Dementia/Alzheimer-s-disease-and-Alzheimer-s-dementia. Accessed Oct. 11, 2019.
National Institute on Aging Website. How is Alzheimer’s Disease Treated? Available at:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-alzheimers-disease-treated. Accessed Oct. 11, 2019.
Legg TJ. Dementia and Alzheimer’s: What are the Differences? Available at:
https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-disease/difference-dementia-alzheimers. Accessed Oct. 11, 2019.