GSK-3β, a pivotal kinase in Alzheimer disease

• Published in: Frontiers in molecular neuroscience Vol. 7; p. 46
• Main Authors: Llorens-Martín, María, Jurado, Jerónimo, Hernández, Félix, Avila, Jesús
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 21.05.2014; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Age; Alzheimer Disease; Alzheimer's disease; Brain; Dementia; Dementia disorders; Enzymes; Etiology; Glycogen; Glycogen synthase kinase 3; GSK3b; Insulin; kinase; Kinases; Memory; neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurofibrillary tangles; Neurons; Neuroscience; Pathology; Phosphorylation; Proteins; Senile plaques; tau Proteins; Spain; neurodegeneration; GSK-3β; kinase; tau proteins; Alzheimer disease
• ISSN: 1662-5099; 1662-5099
• DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2014.00046

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of age-related dementia. The etiology of AD is considered to be multifactorial as only a negligible percentage of cases have a familial or genetic origin. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is regarded as a critical molecular link between the two histopathological hallmarks of the disease, namely senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In this review, we summarize current data regarding the involvement of this kinase in several aspects of AD development and progression, as well as key observations highlighting GSK-3 as one of the most relevant targets for AD treatment.