Potential roles of insulin and IGF-1 in Alzheimer's disease

Trends Neurosci. 2003 Aug;26(8):404-6. doi: 10.1016/S0166-2236(03)00163-2.

Abstract

Aging is characterized by a significant decline of metabolic and hormonal functions, which often facilitates the onset of severe age-associated pathologies. One outstanding example of this is the reported association of deranged signaling by insulin and insulin-like-growth-factor 1 (IGF-1) with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent compelling biological data reveal effects of insulin and IGF-1 on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathology of AD. This review discusses available biological data that highlight the therapeutic potential of the insulin-IGF-1 signaling pathway in AD.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology*
  • Amyloidosis / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Signal Transduction
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Insulin
  • tau Proteins
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I