GSK-3 inhibitors and their potential in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a ubiquitously expressed kinase that has emerged as a promising drug target for several diseases, including various neurological conditions, Type 2 diabetes and cancer. For this reason, a number of drug candidates are being developed to achieve very different goals, any of which could have therapeutic value in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The importance of GSK-3 in so many processes, however, also suggests that issues of side effects will need to be addressed before GSK-3 inhibitors can be used in the clinic. This review discusses the role of GSK-3 in the development of AD, the various approaches that have been used to inhibit GSK-3 activity and the patents describing the use of GSK-3 inhibitors in the treatment of AD.