Programmed cell death: a promising management for Alzheimer’s disease

Epidemiological investigations have indicated that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has emerged as a predominant health challenge among older adults, with its mortality rate rising sharply each year. Nevertheless, measures capable of delaying or halting its clinical progression have remained largely unattained until recent years. Programmed cell death (PCD), defined as a genetically regulated and orderly mode of cellular demise, is pervasive throughout organismal development and essential for maintaining life homeostasis. As research on PCD in AD has expanded, accumulating evidence has shown that autophagy, ferroptosis, cuproptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, parthanatos, NETosis, disulfidptosis, and oxeiptosis are intimately linked to the onset, progression, and prognosis of AD. This review synthesizes recent advances regarding the application of PCD in biomarker identification and therapeutic innovation to enhance AD diagnosis and management. Additionally, challenges and emerging opportunities in employing PCD as novel management strategies are examined, with the overarching aim of transitioning from treatment toward prevention.