Current Understanding of the Physiopathology, Diagnosis and Therapeutic Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease García Morales, Victoria González Acedo, Anabel Melguizo Rodríguez, Lucía Raquel Costela Ruiz, Víctor Javier Montiel Troya, María Ramos Rodríguez, Juan José Alzheimer's disease Senile plaques beta-amyloid protein Tau protein Diagnosis Biomarker Treatment Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors Immunotherapy L.M.-R. and J.J.R.-R. are funded by P20-01293 from Junta de Andalucia, Spain. J.J.R.-R. is additionally funded by PECART-0096-2020 from Junta de Andalucia, Spain and PID2020-117544RB-100 from the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. It is characterized by cognitive decline and progressive memory loss. The aim of this review was to update the state of knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic methods and therapeutic approach to AD. Currently, the amyloid cascade hypothesis remains the leading theory in the pathophysiology of AD. This hypothesis states that amyloid-beta (A beta) deposition triggers a chemical cascade of events leading to the development of AD dementia. The antemortem diagnosis of AD is still based on clinical parameters. Diagnostic procedures in AD include fluid-based biomarkers such as those present in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma or diagnostic imaging methods. Currently, the therapeutic armory available focuses on symptom control and is based on four pillars: pharmacological treatment where acetylcholinesterase inhibitors stand out; pharmacological treatment under investigation which includes drugs focused on the control of A beta pathology and tau hyperphosphorylation; treatment focusing on risk factors such as diabetes; or nonpharmacological treatments aimed at preventing development of the disease or treating symptoms through occupational therapy or psychological help. AD remains a largely unknown disease. Further research is needed to identify new biomarkers and therapies that can prevent progression of the pathology. 2022-01-27T11:42:40Z 2022-01-27T11:42:40Z 2021-12-14 info:eu-repo/semantics/article García-Morales, V... [et al.]. Current Understanding of the Physiopathology, Diagnosis and Therapeutic Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomedicines 2021, 9, 1910. [https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9121910] http://hdl.handle.net/10481/72521 10.3390/biomedicines9121910 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Atribución 3.0 España MDPI