Application of Nerve Growth Factor in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which is characterized by a progressive decline in memory and cognitive function, accompanied with behavioral changes such as confusion, irritability and aggression, mood swings, language breakdown and eventually long-term memory loss. The most significant pathological findings in the brain affected by AD are senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, neuron loss or degeneration, particularly in the areas connected to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, one of the most prominent among the regions being the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. Although many basic and clinical studies have shown that drug treatment could improve the cognitive function and memory of AD patient, it is still a considerable challenge to delay and/or stop the neuron loss and degeneration.