Diabetes and Alzheimer Disease

Kim, Hee Jin

doi:2010.11.4.267

J Korean Diabetes > Volume 11(4); 2010 > Article

Focused Issue

The Journal of Korean Diabetes 2010;11(4):267-270.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/kcd.2010.11.4.267

당뇨병과 알츠하이머병

김희진

Diabetes and Alzheimer Disease

Hee Jin Kim

Abstract

Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is considered to be closely associated with neuroendocrine disorders, particularly diabetes. The association of diabetes with impaired cognitive function suggests that diabetes may contribute to AD. Recently, much epidemiologic and neurochemical evidence has been found to support these beliefs. The role of insulin is to control the release of neurotransmitters from the cell synapses, affecting the path-related signal transduction involved in learning processes and long-term memory. Postmortem brain studies have shown that insulin expression is inversely correlated with the Braak stage of dementia. Insulin signals also stop the synaptic signal transduction of amyloid-beta-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs), reducing the synaptic plasticity of ADDLs aggravated synapse loss and oxidative damage, ultimately contributing to the hyperphosphorylation of tau and plaque formations to cause AD. Dysregulation of glucose metabolism is known to contribute to the development of both disorders, resulting in an accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The aims of this study are to present epidemiologic data of diabetes in dementia and to review the relationship between these two diseases with regard to the pathomechanism. (Korean Clinical Diabetes J 11:267-270, 2010)

Key Words: Alzheimer`s disease, Diabetes mellitus