Alzheimer´s disease (AD) is an irreversible
neurodegenerative disorder and one of the main agingdependent maladies of the 21st century. Currently, around
46 million people suffer from AD worldwide and this is
projected to double within the next 20 years. Due to the
progressive aging of the population and the prediction of an
increase in the incidence of this disease, AD constitutes a
serious familial and social health problem. Therefore, it is
essential to find therapeutic strategies which are aim to
prevent, delay the onset, slow the progression and/or
improve the symptoms of AD. Nowadays, the research is
focused on finding and identifying new drugs for achieving
these goals.
In this article we have focused on a thorough review
of the neuroprotective role the antibiotics rifampicin,
rapamycin and minocycline play in the treatment of AD as
these medications reach the brain quickly and are relatively
inexpensive. Likewise, we have found evidence in both “in
vitro” and “in vivo” studies and also some clinical trials. In
an overview, all the reviewed antibiotics exert
neuroprotection because they act as anti-inflammatory and
anti-amyloidogenic agent
