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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Tiago OuteiroORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2025.As global life expectancy increases, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continues to rise. Since therapeutic options are minimal, a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology is essential for improved diagnosis and treatments. AD is marked by the aggregation of Aβ proteins, tau hyperphosphorylation, and progressive neuronal loss, though its precise origins remain poorly understood. Meanwhile, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, leading to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are implicated in tissue damage and neurotoxicity. These AGEs can be resistant to proteolysis and, therefore, accumulate, exacerbating AD pathology and accelerating neurodegeneration. Insulin resistance, a hallmark of T2DM, further complicates AD pathogenesis by promoting tau hyperphosphorylation and Aβ plaque accumulation. Additionally, gut microbiome dysbiosis in T2DM fosters AGE accumulation and neuroinflammation, underscoring the intricate relationship between metabolic disorders, gut health, and neurodegenerative processes. This complex interplay presents both a challenge and a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention. Emerging evidence suggests that antidiabetic medications may offer cognitive benefits in AD, as well as in other neurodegenerative conditions, pointing to a shared pathophysiology. Thus, we posit that targeting AGEs, insulin signaling, and gut microbiota dynamics presents promising opportunities for innovative treatment approaches in AD and T2DM.
Author(s): Ayoub S, Arabi M, Al-Najjar Y, Laswi I, Outeiro TF, Chaari A
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Molecular Neurobiology
Year: 2025
Volume: 62
Pages: 14859–14882
Print publication date: 01/11/2025
Online publication date: 22/05/2025
Acceptance date: 07/05/2025
ISSN (print): 0893-7648
ISSN (electronic): 1559-1182
Publisher: Springer
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-025-05051-9
DOI: 10.1007/s12035-025-05051-9
Data Access Statement: No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.
