Prediabetes-induced vascular alterations exacerbate central pathology in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice

Abstract

Age remains the main risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) although certain metabolic alterations, including prediabetes and hyperinsulinemia, also increase this risk. We present a mouse model of AD (APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse) with severe hyperinsulinemia induced by long-term high fat diet (HFD) treatment. After 23 weeks on HFD learning and memory processes were compromised. We observed a significant increase in tau hyperphosphorylation and Aβ pathology, including Aβ levels and amyloid burden. Microglia activation was also significantly increased in HFD-treated mice, both in close proximity to and far from senile plaques. Insulin degrading enzyme and neprilysin levels were not affected, suggesting that Aβ degradation pathways were preserved, whereas we detected an increase in spontaneous cortical bleeding that could underlay an impairment of Aβ interstitial fluid drainage, contributing to the increase in Aβ deposition in APP/PS1-HFD mice. Altogether our data suggest that early hyperinsulinemia is enough to exacerbate AD pathology observed in APP/PS1 mice, and supports the role of insulin-resistance therapies to stop or delay central complications associated.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid-β; Haemorrhage; Hyperinsulinemia; Insulin degrading enzyme; Microglia; Neprilysin; Prediabetes; Tau.