Angelo Spinello, Riccardo Bonsignore, Giampaolo Barone, Bernhard K. Keppler and Alessio Terenzi Pages 3996 - 4010 ( 15 )
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia that seriously affects daily life. Even if AD pathogenesis is still subject of debate, it is generally accepted that cerebral cortex plaques formed by aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides can be considered a characteristic pathological hallmark. It is well known that metal ions play an important role in the aggregation process of Aβ. Methods: This review focuses on the anti-Aβ aggregation activity of chelating ligands as well as on the use of metal complexes as diagnostic probes and as potential drugs. Conclusion: While chelating agents, such as curcumin or flavonoid derivatives, are currently used to capture metal ions responsible for Aβ aggregation, the potential application of platinum, ruthenium and cobalt complexes, among others, of several heterocyclic ligands, represents a promising new strategy to fight AD.
Alzheimer’s Disease, metal ions, metal complexes, AD drugs, anti-Aβ aggregating agents, imaging.
, , , , Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringerstr. 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.