Growth factors in alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Growth factors have the potential to potently influence neuronal survival and function. Their broad efficacy against a variety of pathogenic insults likely arises because growth factors influence final common mechanisms that mediate cell atrophy and death, including apoptosis-related mechanisms (bcl-2, bax, and the caspases) as well as genes important for cell function (ERK/MAP kinase, CREB, others). As such, the growth factors offer the potential to treat neurodegenerative disorders either alone or as combination therapies with other anti-AD therapies, including anti-amyloid approaches. The transition to clinical trials using methods that generate high yet locally restricted levels of growth factors should, over the next few years, indicate whether they will ultimately have a useful role in the treatment of AD. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved.