Oxidative Stress and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease

Year: 2013

Type: review

Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease that causes dementia in the elderly. Patients with AD suffer a gradual deterioration of memory and other cognitive functions, which eventually leads to a complete incapacity and death. A complicated array of molecular events has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. The major pathological characteristics of AD brains are the presence of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss. Growing evidence has demonstrated that oxidative stress is an important factor contributing to the initiation and progression of AD. However, the mechanisms that lead to the disruption of redox balance and the sources of free radicals remain elusive. The excessive reactive oxygen species may be generated from mechanisms such as mitochondria dysfunction and/or aberrant accumulation of transition metals, while the abnormal accumulation of Abeta and tau proteins appears to promote the redox imbalance. The resulted oxidative stress has been implicated in Abeta- or tau-induced neurotoxicity. In addition, evidence has suggested that oxidative stress may augment the production and aggregation of Abeta and facilitate the phosphorylation and polymerization of tau, thus forming a vicious cycle that promotes the initiation and progression of AD.

Source: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

DOI: 10.1155/2013/316523

Authors: Yan Zhao, Baolu Zhao

Institutions: Harbin Institute of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science

Language: English

Topic: Alzheimer's disease research and treatments

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,680

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai Science and Technology Development Program, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

OpenAlex ID: W2141262291