Biological predictors of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors response in Alzheimer's Disease

• Grant number: 18/06055-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Marcio Luiz Figueredo Balthazar
• Grantee: Natalie Lecce
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with a relevant negative impact on the individual's cognitive functions, behavior and daily activities. It presents a prevalence of 46.8 million people in the world population and without curative therapy so far. Studies have shown that a cerebral hypocholinergic state, characterized by reduction in the number of cholinergic neurons and change in the dynamics of neurotransmission modulated by acetylcholine, are present in AD. Based on these observations, drugs that potentiate cholinergic neurotransmission have been developed, for example the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Such therapy has the potential to delay the clinical evolution of AD symptomatology, bringing quality of life to the patients. Of note, the response to treatment with these drugs is variable and presents significant adverse events. Until this moment, there are no effective elements able to predict the response to acetylcholinesterase inhibitor therapy. Thus, in this project, we propose the study of potential predictors of response to treatment with these drugs in patients with AD. The search for these markers is justified by the need for a better indication of the treatment, minimizing the potential adverse effect and improving the effectiveness of the treatment. (AU)