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

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 34; no. 46; p. e297
• Main Authors: Ahn, Kee Chan, Learman, Cameron R, Baker, Glen B, Weaver, Charles L, Chung, Phil Sang, Kim, Hyung Gun, Song, Mee Sook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 02.12.2019; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - complications; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Amyloid beta-Peptides - metabolism; Astrocytes - cytology; Astrocytes - metabolism; Brain - metabolism; Cerebrovascular Disorders - complications; Cerebrovascular Disorders - pathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - pathology; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Lithium Chloride - therapeutic use; Pioglitazone - therapeutic use; Review; 의학일반; Insulin Signaling; Diabetes; Oxidative Stress; Alzheimer's Disease; Blood Brain Barrier; Brain Inflammation
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e297

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.