Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: Promising therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease (Review)

Activated monoamine oxidase (MAO) has a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including the formation of amyloid plaques from amyloid beta peptide (A beta) production and accumulation, formation of neurofibrillary tangles, and cognitive impairment via the destruction of cholinergic neurons and disorder of the cholinergic system. Several studies have indicated that MAO inhibitors improve cognitive deficits and reverse A beta pathology by modulating proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein and decreasing A beta protein fragments. Thus, MAO inhibitors may be considered as promising therapeutic agents for AD.