About this Research Topic
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition and one of the most frequent forms of dementia. It was initially described in 1906 by the German physician, Alois Alzheimer, who reported for the first time the presence of anatomical alterations in the brain of a patient with symptoms of dementia. It is characterized by the progressive degeneration of neurons and the dysfunction of several cognitive abilities, above all memory and learning, AD imposes a severe burden to the affected individuals, but also to their caregivers and to society in terms of health care costs. Globally, AD affects approximately 40 million individuals, and it is estimated that more than 130 million individuals worldwide will meet the diagnostic criteria for AD by the year 2050. AD is particularly frequent in the elderly population and is one of the leading cause of disability in everyday functioning.
For several decades, the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis has been the prevailing concept underlying AD research. This hypothesis posits that the accumulation of the peptide amyloid-beta (Aβ) is the main cause of the condition. The accumulation of Aβ in the brain subsequently leads to a series of events, including the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles inside nerve cell bodies. However, despite significant progress in research, reliable treatments for AD have not been found and currently prescribed medications are only symptomatic in nature.
Recent evidence has also shown that, beside cognitive deterioration, the vast majority of AD patients develop psychiatric symptoms such as depression, apathy, hallucinations and delusions at some stage during their disease thus further worsening clinical outcome. Accordingly, over the past few years, several investigators have explored the possibility of treating the psychiatric symptoms in AD in an attempt to halt the progression of the disease. Further understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of psychiatric symptoms in AD is necessary as this may pave the way towards the development of more efficient and integrated treatments.
In this Research Topic, we aim at providing a collection of high-impact papers dissecting the psychiatric symptoms in AD and discussing the incorporation of these symptoms into revised diagnostic criteria and therapeutic guidelines. Key questions that this Research Topic aims at addressing include the following:
1. What are the main psychiatric symptoms of AD and at which stage of the disease do they appear?
2. How do psychiatric symptoms interact with cognitive deficits in AD?
3. What are the neural basis of psychiatric symptoms in AD?
4. Do psychiatric symptoms or their successful treatment modify the course of AD?
5. Can we consider psychiatric symptoms as reliable biomarkers of AD development and progression?
6. Can safer and more effective treatments be developed?
The Research Topic will cover the following themes:
- Aging and dementia
- Antidepressant and antipsychotics
- Behavioral and cognitive disturbance
- Neurophysiology and neural plasticity
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropharmacology
- Neurodegeneration
- Psychosocial and behavioral therapy
This Research Topic welcomes all types of articles including Original Research, Reviews, Opinions, Perspectives, etc.
For several decades, the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis has been the prevailing concept underlying AD research. This hypothesis posits that the accumulation of the peptide amyloid-beta (Aβ) is the main cause of the condition. The accumulation of Aβ in the brain subsequently leads to a series of events, including the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles inside nerve cell bodies. However, despite significant progress in research, reliable treatments for AD have not been found and currently prescribed medications are only symptomatic in nature.
Recent evidence has also shown that, beside cognitive deterioration, the vast majority of AD patients develop psychiatric symptoms such as depression, apathy, hallucinations and delusions at some stage during their disease thus further worsening clinical outcome. Accordingly, over the past few years, several investigators have explored the possibility of treating the psychiatric symptoms in AD in an attempt to halt the progression of the disease. Further understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of psychiatric symptoms in AD is necessary as this may pave the way towards the development of more efficient and integrated treatments.
In this Research Topic, we aim at providing a collection of high-impact papers dissecting the psychiatric symptoms in AD and discussing the incorporation of these symptoms into revised diagnostic criteria and therapeutic guidelines. Key questions that this Research Topic aims at addressing include the following:
1. What are the main psychiatric symptoms of AD and at which stage of the disease do they appear?
2. How do psychiatric symptoms interact with cognitive deficits in AD?
3. What are the neural basis of psychiatric symptoms in AD?
4. Do psychiatric symptoms or their successful treatment modify the course of AD?
5. Can we consider psychiatric symptoms as reliable biomarkers of AD development and progression?
6. Can safer and more effective treatments be developed?
The Research Topic will cover the following themes:
- Aging and dementia
- Antidepressant and antipsychotics
- Behavioral and cognitive disturbance
- Neurophysiology and neural plasticity
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropharmacology
- Neurodegeneration
- Psychosocial and behavioral therapy
This Research Topic welcomes all types of articles including Original Research, Reviews, Opinions, Perspectives, etc.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Neurodegeneration, Memory, Psychiatric symptoms, Neuroimaging, Antidepressant, Antipsychotics
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
