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Targeting Amyloid Beta Aggregation and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease: Advances and Future Directions
Ioanna Dagla, Faidon Gkikas, Evagelos Gikas, Anthony Tsarbopoulos. Cells, 2026-02-04
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Among the diverse pathological features of AD, amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation and neuroinflammation are recognized as central and interlinked mechanisms driving disease progression. This review focuses specifically on these two processes and highlights current pharmacological limitations in modifying disease pathology. Natural products such as curcumin, resveratrol, Ginkgo biloba, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), crocin, ashwagandha, and cannabidiol (CBD) have shown promising activity in modulating Aβ aggregation and neuroinflammatory pathways, offering multi-target neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies. However, their therapeutic application remains hindered by poor solubility, instability, rapid metabolism, and limited blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. To overcome these barriers, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems—including polymeric nanoparticles, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and chitosan-based carriers—have emerged as effective strategies to enhance brain targeting, bioavailability, and pharmacological efficacy. We summarize the mechanistic insights and nanomedicine approaches related to these bioactives and discuss their potential in developing future disease-modifying therapies. By focusing on Aβ aggregation and neuroinflammation, this review provides a targeted perspective on the evolving role of natural compounds and nanocarriers in AD treatment.
Key findings
- Natural products such as curcumin, resveratrol, Ginkgo biloba, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), crocin, ashwagandha, and cannabidiol (CBD) have shown promising activity in modulating Aβ aggregation and neuroinflammatory pathways, offering multi-target neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies.
- However, their therapeutic application remains hindered by poor solubility, instability, rapid metabolism, and limited blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability.
- To overcome these barriers, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems—including polymeric nanoparticles, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and chitosan-based carriers—have emerged as effective strategies to enhance brain targeting, bioavailability, and pharmacological efficacy.
- We summarize the mechanistic insights and nanomedicine approaches related to these bioactives and discuss their potential in developing future disease-modifying therapies.
- By focusing on Aβ aggregation and neuroinflammation, this review provides a targeted perspective on the evolving role of natural compounds and nanocarriers in AD treatment.
Why it matters
This review describes natural products such as curcumin, resveratrol, and cannabidiol that show promise in reducing amyloid-beta aggregation and neuroinflammation in preclinical studies, but their use is limited by poor solubility, instability, and poor brain penetration. Nanotechnology delivery systems are proposed to overcome these barriers, but no effective therapy in people is established.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Cells) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Cells: journal h-index 234 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 12 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 49.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Anthony Tsarbopoulos: h-index 33 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: institution h-index 859 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41677657) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Dagla, I., Gkikas, F., Gikas, E., & Tsarbopoulos, A. (2026). Targeting Amyloid Beta Aggregation and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease: Advances and Future Directions. Cells. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15030295
Vancouver
Dagla I, Gkikas F, Gikas E, Tsarbopoulos A. Targeting Amyloid Beta Aggregation and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease: Advances and Future Directions. Cells. 2026. doi:10.3390/cells15030295. PMID: 41677657.
BibTeX
@article{dagla2026-41677657,
author = {Dagla, Ioanna and Gkikas, Faidon and Gikas, Evagelos and Tsarbopoulos, Anthony},
title = {{Targeting Amyloid Beta Aggregation and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease: Advances and Future Directions}},
journal = {Cells},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3390/cells15030295},
pmid = {41677657},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15030295}
}
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