Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway associated with neuroinflammation mediated Alzheimer’s disease: pre-clinical and clinical status of emerging therapeutics

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a rising global health problem, but current treatments only target symptoms rather than fixing their underlying root causes. A major pathological feature is neuroinflammation, which is specifically driven by the Nucleotide-binding domain, Leucine-rich-repeat and Pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome cascade, which acts as a 'molecular switch' that causes immune cells in the brain to trigger robust secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-1β, IL-18) and pyroptosis, causing systemic inflammation, thereby the neuroinflammation. AREAS COVERED: This review breaks down the pathways triggered by immune cells activation (neurotoxic microglial phenotype) and majorly focusing over the NLRP3 inflammasome neuroinflammation pathway. It explores the promising therapeutic potential of specific bioactive phytochemicals, repurposed and novel synthetic drugs/agents, to shut-down this molecular switch i.e. NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. EXPERT OPINION: To truly stop AD, we must shift our focus from treating merely the symptoms, by stopping the disease at its roots. While discovering the novel NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors is exciting, but the biggest hurdle is getting them into the brain. Future of AD treatment relies on combining these targeted drugs with advanced nanotechnology, like nano-particles, to successfully cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and safely deliver the drugs exactly where they are needed.