J Korean Med Sci.  2019 Dec;34(46):e297. 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e297.

Regulation of Diabetes: a Therapeutic Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease?

• Ahn KC
• Learman CR
• Baker GB
• Weaver CL
• Chung PS
• Kim HG
• Song MS

• KMID: 2464193
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e297

Abstract

Accumulated evidence suggests that sporadic cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) make up more than 95% of total AD patients, and diabetes has been implicated as a strong risk factor for the development of AD. Diabetes shares pathological features of AD, such as impaired insulin signaling, increased oxidative stress, increased amyloid-beta (Aβ) production, tauopathy and cerebrovascular complication. Due to shared pathologies between the two diseases, anti-diabetic drugs may be a suitable therapeutic option for AD treatment. In this article, we will discuss the well-known pathologies of AD, including Aβ plaques and tau tangles, as well as other mechanisms shared in AD and diabetes including reactive glia and the breakdown of blood brain barrier in order to evaluate the presence of any potential, indirect or direct links of pre-diabetic conditions to AD pathology. In addition, clinical evidence of high incidence of diabetic patients to the development of AD are described together with application of anti-diabetic medications to AD patients.

Keyword

Diabetes; Alzheimer's Disease; Insulin Signaling; Oxidative Stress; Blood Brain Barrier; Brain Inflammation

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease*
Blood-Brain Barrier
Encephalitis
Humans
Incidence
Insulin
Neuroglia
Oxidative Stress
Pathology
Risk Factors
Tauopathies
Insulin