Background:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent subtype of incurable
neurodegenerative dementias and its etiopathology is still not clearly elucidated.
Objective:
Outline the ongoing clinical trials (CTs) in the field of AD in order to find novel
master regulators.
Method:
We strictly reviewed all scientific reports from Clinicaltrials.gov and PubMed
databases from January 2010 to January 2019. The search terms were "Alzheimer's disease" or
"dementia" and "medicine" or "drug" or "treatment" and "clinical trials" and "interventions".
Manuscripts that met the objective of this study were included for further evaluations.
Results:
Drug candidates have been categorized into two main groups including antibodies,
peptides or hormones (such as Ponezumab, Interferon β-1a, Solanezumab, Filgrastim, Levemir,
Apidra, and Estrogen), and naturally-derived ingredients or small molecules (such as
Paracetamol, Ginkgo, Escitalopram, Simvastatin, Cilostazo, and Ritalin-SR). The majority of
natural candidates acted as anti-inflammatory or/and anti-oxidant and antibodies exert their
actions via increasing amyloid-beta (Aβ) clearance or decreasing Tau aggregation. Among small
molecules, most of them that are present in the last phases act as specific antagonists
(Suvorexant, Idalopirdine, Intepirdine, Trazodone, Carvedilol, and Risperidone) or agonists
(Dextromethorphan, Resveratrol, Brexpiprazole) and frequently ameliorates cognitive
dysfunctions.
Conclusion:
The presences of a small number of candidates in the last phase suggest that a large
number of candidates have had an undesirable side effect or were unable to pass essential
eligibility for future phases. Among successful treatment approaches, clearance of Aβ, recovery
of cognitive deficits, and control of acute neuroinflammation are the widely chosen targets. It is
predicted that some FDA-approved drugs such as Paracetamol, Risperidone, Escitalopram,
Simvastatin, Cilostazoand, and Ritalin-SR could also use in off-label ways for AD. This review
improves our ability to recognize novel treatments for AD and suggesting approaches for the
clinical trial design for this devastating disease in the near future.