Cholesterol Metabolism and Transport in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Faculty

Faculty of Computing, Health and Science

School

School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science / Centre of Excellence in Alzheimer’s Disease Research

RAS ID

8930

Comments

Martins, I. J., Berger, T., Sharman, M. J., Verdile, G. , Fuller, S. J., & Martins, R. N. (2009). Cholesterol metabolism and transport in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Neurochemistry, 111(6), 1275-1308. Available here

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. Apart from age, the major risk factor identified so far for the sporadic form of AD is possession of the ɛ4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE), which is also a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Other apolipoproteins known to play an important role in CAD such as apolipoprotein B are now gaining attention for their role in AD as well. AD and CAD share other risk factors, such as altered cholesterol levels, particularly high levels of low density lipoproteins together with low levels of high density lipoproteins. Statins – drugs that have been used to lower cholesterol levels in CAD, have been shown to protect against AD, although the protective mechanism(s) involved are still under debate. Enzymatic production of the beta amyloid peptide, the peptide thought to play a major role in AD pathogenesis, is affected by membrane cholesterol levels. In addition, polymorphisms in several proteins and enzymes involved in cholesterol and lipoprotein transport and metabolism have been linked to risk of AD. Taken together, these findings provide strong evidence that changes in cholesterol metabolism are intimately involved in AD pathogenic processes. This paper reviews cholesterol metabolism and transport, as well as those aspects of cholesterol metabolism that have been linked with AD.

DOI

10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06408.x

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free_to_read

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06408.x