Upcoming Nano and Conventional Drug Delivery Strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a dreadful disease common in the aging population that affects an estimated 55 million people worldwide, with an alarming rate of nearly 10 million new cases every year. Unfortunately, at present, no permanent cure for AD is available, and existing medications can only alleviate the symptoms or reduce the rate of disease progression. The failure to develop effective drugs is attributed to the multifaceted nature of AD, which includes various underlying theories and a complex pathophysiology. Furthermore, drug delivery to the brain is challenging due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), limiting the bioavailability of drugs in the brain. Conventional drug delivery systems lack target specificity and have off-target effects. However, for effective pharmacotherapy in AD, drug delivery systems that can transport drug molecules to the target site, reduce off-target effects, improve brain residence time, and reduce metabolism are essential. Nanocarriers offer a promising approach to overcoming the above limitations and enhancing the delivery of therapeutics to the brain. The current chapter provides an overview of upcoming nano and conventional drug delivery systems in AD therapy. These strategies hold promise for developing efficient therapies for AD, by improving drug delivery to the brain and enhancing therapeutic outcomes.