Repurposing Anti-cancer Drugs for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease that affects millions of people globally, and current therapy options only provide symptomatic management. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are urgently needed to slow down or stop the progression of AD, as the failure rate of current candidates is high. Recent research has shown that certain anticancer drugs have promising effects for AD because of the common molecular mechanisms shared between dementia and site-specific cancers. Repurposing these anticancer drugs as DMTs for AD is an exciting avenue of research, and studies suggest that they may act as DMTs once the neurodegenerative process starts. However, more research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of these drugs for AD. It is crucial to address the unmet need for DMTs and provide adequate care and support for AD patients and their caregivers. This special report discusses recent advances in developing anti-cancer therapies for AD.