Immunity and Alzheimer's disease: immunological perspectives on the development of novel therapies

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder among older people. However, no cure or disease-modifying treatments are currently available, and the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the etiology of AD remain under debate. Recent studies suggest that the immune system has a crucial role in AD pathogenesis and, thus, immunotherapy might be a promising new treatment. Here, we review the roles of the immune system in AD pathogenesis as well as recent developments in immunotherapy for AD. Furthermore, we hypothesize that age-related immune dysregulation, which might be a consequence of the age-associated chronic inflammation known as 'inflammaging', significantly contributes to AD pathogenesis. Finally, we propose various immunological mechanisms for the development of safe and effective therapies for AD.