Elevated Glutathione as a Therapeutic Strategy in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognition. Our laboratory and many others have shown that the AD brain is under extensive oxidative stress. Numerous therapeutic approaches to AD therapy have been hypothesized. Among these are exogenous antioxidants. We suggest that the body’s own endogenous antioxidant systems should be mobilized against the oxidative stress inherent in AD brain. One of the most versatile antioxidants in the brain is glutathione. Glutathione is capable of protecting the cell against reactive oxygen species, redox metal ions, and reactive lipid peroxidation products and other electrophiles associated with AD. There are many ways to increase glutathione levels, and one or more of these ways to increase glutathione in the brain may be a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. Drug Dev. Res. 56:428–437, 2002. c 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.