The role of type 2 diabetes in neurodegeneration
Document Type
Journal Article
Publisher
Academic Press Inc.
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
20354
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council
Grant Number
NHMRC Number: 1009295
Abstract
A growing body of evidence links type-2 diabetes (T2D) with dementia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is the most common form of dementia and is characterised neuropathologically by the accumulation of extracellular beta amyloid (Aβ) peptide aggregates and intracellular hyper-phosphorylated tau protein, which are thought to drive and/or accelerate inflammatory and oxidative stress processes leading to neurodegeneration. Although the precise mechanism remains unclear, T2D can exacerbate these neurodegenerative processes. Brain atrophy, reduced cerebral glucose metabolism and CNS insulin resistance are features of both AD and T2D. Cell culture and animal studies have indicated that the early accumulation of Aβ may play a role in CNS insulin resistance and impaired insulin signalling. From the viewpoint of insulin resistance and impaired insulin signalling in the brain, these are also believed to initiate other aspects of brain injury, including inflammatory and oxidative stress processes. Here we review the clinical and experimental pieces of evidence that link these two chronic diseases of ageing, and discuss underlying mechanisms. The evaluation of treatments for the management of diabetes in preclinical, and clinical studies and trials for AD will also be discussed.
DOI
10.1016/j.nbd.2015.04.008
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Verdile, G., Fuller, S.J., Martins, R.N. (2015). The role of type 2 diabetes in neurodegeneration in Neurobiology of Disease, 84(Dec), 22-38. Available here.