Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are chronic disorders that have a significant health impact on a global scale. Epidemiological, preclinical, and clinical research underpins the assumption that insulin resistance and chronic inflammation contribute to the overlapping aetiologies of T2D and PD. This narrative review summarises the recent evidence on the contribution of T2D to the initiation and progression of PD brain pathology. It also briefly discusses the rationale and potential of alternative pharmacological interventions for PD treatment.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; advanced glycation end products; diabetes; hyperglycemia; insulin resistance; neuroinflammation; reactive oxidative species (ROS); α-synuclein; α-synuclein oligomers.