Alzheimer’s disease has proved to be a tricky target, and researchers and drug developers have been pursuing effective treatments for decades. DNA-sequencing analyses have identified gene variants that influence Alzheimer’s risk. The BasicsA well-known hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is the buildup of tau (a) and amyloid beta (b) proteins in the brain. Jen Christiansen Source: “Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Development Pipeline: 2025,” by Jeffrey L. Cummings et al., in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, Vol. Inflammation • Keeping nerve cells healthy and protecting them from damage requires balance between soluble and membrane-bound forms of a protein called TNF-α.