Recent updates in the development of small molecules as potential clinical candidates for Alzheimer's disease: A review

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the prominent causes for disability and lowered quality of life worldwide in elderly population. It has fostered immense burden to AD patients, families and society. Burgeoning progress in the field of pathogenesis over last two decades has persuaded the investigation of novel pharmacological therapeutics that focuses towards the pathophysiological events of AD. Miscellaneous clinical trials, development and testing of interventions aimed at various targets, such as anti‐tau and anti‐amyloid interventions, neurotransmitter modification, neuroprotection and anti‐neuroinflammation interventions, cognitive enhancement and interventions to palliate behavioural symptoms have been carried out. Despite massive efforts to find disease‐modifying therapies, there lingers a vital need for continuing the advancement in progress of the AD research. This review features the new developments of small molecule compounds that will be beneficial in evolution of new AD therapies. In particular, this review briefly describes summary of mechanistic causes chiefly associated with AD and focuses on medicinal approach via small molecule inhibitors that can manage cognitive impairment and dysfunction and may combat Alzheimer's development. The ongoing development of interventions for Alzheimer's disease has depicted useful findings of scaffolds such as imidazothiadiazoles, acridones, phenanthroline, phthalazine sulphonamides, phenyl benzoxazole, coumarin‐benzotriazole, chalcones and 1,3,5‐triazines which are aimed at various targets like anti‐tau, anti‐amyloid interventions, neuroprotection and cognitive improvement.