Alzheimer's Disease: Silent Erosion of Memory - From Discovery toModern Crisis and the Quest for a Cure

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities and memory impairment, representing the most common form of dementia worldwide. First described by Alois Alzheimer in 1906, AD continues to pose significant global health and socioeconomic challenges, with incidence anticipated to exceed 14 million cases by 2060. Despite decades of investigation, the specific pathophysiology -comprising multifactorial mechanisms such as genetic predisposition, environmental influences, lifestyle factors, amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, tau pathology, as well as vascular disease - remains incompletely understood. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge regarding these mechanisms, and it explores the field's new therapeutic modalities, such as monoclonal antibodies, ultrasound-based treatments, and novel diagnostic tools based on biomarkers. It also discusses the socioeconomic burden of AD and regional challenges in the Middle East, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dementia care. While many of AD's underlying causes are aggressive and difficult to treat, new research in genetics, natural compounds, and groundbreaking therapies offers hope for better diagnosis and treatment. Above all, this study emphasizes the importance of having more effective chemotherapeutic or radiological approaches for ADs, as well as a robust medical system capable of providing these treatments to the patients.