Insulin resistance in Alzheimer's disease: The genetics and metabolomics links

Clin Chim Acta. 2023 Jan 15:539:215-236. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.12.016. Epub 2022 Dec 22.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with significant socioeconomic burden worldwide. Although genetics and environmental factors play a role, AD is highly associated with insulin resistance (IR) disorders such as metabolic syndrome (MS), obesity, and type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These findings highlight a shared pathogenesis. The use of metabolomics as a downstream systems' biology (omics) approach can help to identify these shared metabolic traits and assist in the early identification of at-risk groups and potentially guide therapy. Targeting the shared AD-IR metabolic trait with lifestyle interventions and pharmacological treatments may offer promising AD therapeutic approach. In this narrative review, we reviewed the literature on the AD-IR pathogenic link, the shared genetics and metabolomics biomarkers between AD and IR disorders, as well as the lifestyle interventions and pharmacological treatments which target this pathogenic link.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Diabetes; Genetic; Insulin resistance; Metabolomics; Obesity; Therapeutics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease* / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance* / genetics
  • Metabolomics
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases*

Substances

  • Insulin