Therapeutic Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease: Integrating Natural, Semi-Synthetic, and Synthetic Drug Strategies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with age, marked by progressive memory loss linked to the decline of cholinergic neurons, accumulation of amyloid plaques, and the presence of Neurofibrillary Tangles (NFTs). Neuropil threads in the brain contribute to amyloidosis and dementia. Despite extensive research, AD's etiology remains unclear, and currently, no promising therapy exists. This review examines the role of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs in AD treatment. Natural drugs demonstrate safety and efficacy with minimal adverse effects, while most agents, whether natural or synthetic, target multiple steps or directly counteract amyloidogenesis, tau protein pathology, oxidative stress, NMDA receptor activity, inflammation, acetylcholine (AChE) function, or α, β, γ secretase activity. In pursuit of improved treatment outcomes, we explore the effectiveness and challenges of various therapeutic interventions. Our hypothesis underscores the importance of an integrated approach combining these drug types for tailored symptom relief, suggesting combined therapies may offer greater therapeutic benefits compared to single-drug approaches. The drugs discussed show potential in regulating AD, thereby presenting viable options for its management. However, to obtain more favorable results, additional studies are needed by combining these drugs.