[Premature immunosenescence: a pathogenetic factor in Alzheimer's disease?].

While the familial form of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to be entirely inherited, the etiopathogenesis of the most common late-onset form of Alzheimer's disease still remains unresolved. Among various factors, aging seems to be one of the most prominent risk factors. Moreover, a large body of evidence points to the contribution of immunological alterations in AD. The involvement of inflammatory factors in the etiopathology has been widely discussed. Moreover, an impairment of certain immune responses in AD has been observed. Presumably, premature immunosenescence may lead to inadequate immune reactions. Against this background, the development of different immunotherapeutic strategies seems to be a promising challenge for future research.