Relationship of obesity, diabetes, and impaired insulin signaling to the development of Alzheimer's disease pathology

Tomoko Wakabayashi

Department of Innovative Dementia Prevention, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

One of the acquired risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is type 2 diabetes, and its core pathophysiology, insulin resistance, has been implicated in AD pathogenesis. Insulin resistance stemming from obesity, diabetes, and aging promotes Aβ accumulation in the brain. On the other hand, reduced insulin signaling itself, which has been known to exert anti-aging and lifespan-extending effects across diverse animal species, attenuates Aβ deposition. This article reviews the findings in the field and from our studies in mouse models on the diverse effects of impaired insulin signaling on Aβ pathology.

Address correspondence to Dr. Tomoko Wakabayashi, Department of Innovative Dementia Prevention, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo(7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)