A Literature Review: Effects of NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitor on Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by decreased cognitive abilities and pathological changes in the brain. The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is rising globally, affecting over 50 million people in 2020, and is projected to reach 152 million by 2050. The NLRP3 inflammasome can be targeted with pharmacological inhibitors that cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to treat neurodegenerative and CNS diseases. This literature review evaluates the impact of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors on Alzheimer's disease progression, selecting English-language articles published between 2014 and 2024. Relevant biochemistry, immunology, and molecular biology studies were sourced from PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Using the PRISMA method, 300 initial articles were screened, 261 duplicate articles were excluded, and 39 articles were further assessed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 5 articles reviewed. NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, such as anakinra, OLT1177, and β-hydroxybutyrate, can potentially slow Alzheimer's disease progression by reducing neurodegenerative inflammation and amyloid-beta accumulation. These inhibitors can improve cognitive function and decrease neuroinflammatory damage, making NLRP3 a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer's treatment.