It was previously demonstrated that melanocortins protect against the progression of Alzheimer's disease in triple-transgenic mice (3xTg); the study found that treatment with α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (NDP-α-MSH) reduced cerebral cortex and hippocampus phosphorylation levels of amyloid/tau cascade proteins, inflammation, and apoptosis. This evidence concerns the gene NDP and early-onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease.