This book reviews recent advances in drug discovery for Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on major targets and approaches. Topics include approaches to targeting—directly or indirectly—the two proteins that pathologically accumulate in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease, the amyloid β-peptide and the microtubule-associated protein tau, which remain top targets for disease prevention and treatment. A chapter on the emerging area of AI approaches to drug repurposing and discovery will also be included, with examples of the use of big data to identify novel therapeutic modalities. An overview chapter will put these approaches into broader context; describe other important and emerging approaches, targets, and drug candidates; and provide a critical assessment of the potential of these approaches to lead to effective therapeutics. This book is particularly appealing to researchers, clinicians, and students in the fields of medicinal chemistry, neuroscience, pharmacology, and biomedical sciences, as well as anyone interested in the latest advancements in Alzheimer’s disease research and drug discovery.

Michael Wolfe is the Mathias P. Mertes Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Kansas, USA, where he has worked since 2016. He began his academic career at the University of Tennessee in Memphis in 1994, before moving to Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1999. He was appointed Professor of Neurology in 2008. His research career has been dedicated elucidating the molecular basis of Alzheimer’s and related disorders and identifying effective pharmacological interventions. Awards for his work include the MetLife Award for Biomedical Research (2008), a Zenith Fellows Award from the Alzheimer’s Association (2008), and the Potamkin Prize from the American Academy of Neurology (2009).