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Author Spotlight: Decoding Mitochondrial Aging
Published on: June 30, 2023
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Alzheimer, mitochondria and gender
Amandine Grimm1, Ayikoe Guy Mensah-Nyagan2, Anne Eckert1
1Neurobiology Laboratory for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Transfaculty Research Platform, Molecular & Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Str. 27, CH-4012 Basel, Switzerland; Psychiatric University Clinics, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Str. 27, CH-4012 Basel, Switzerland.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|May 4, 2016
Summary
Sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone may protect the brain. Their decline, especially after menopause, could link to Alzheimer
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affects women, with declining sex steroid hormones post-menopause a potential risk factor.
- Reduced testosterone in aging men may also elevate AD risk.
- While animal studies show neuroprotective effects of sex hormones, clinical data are inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of mitochondria in observed gender differences in Alzheimer's disease.
- To discuss the link between sex hormone loss, brain redox status, and aging in AD pathogenesis.
- To highlight the protective effects of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone on mitochondrial dysfunction in AD.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data on gender and Alzheimer's disease.
- Analysis of studies on sex hormones and neuroprotection in AD animal models.
- Discussion of research on mitochondria, aging, redox status, and sex hormones in AD.
Main Results:
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in gender disparities in Alzheimer's disease.
- Loss of sex hormones correlates with altered brain redox status during aging and AD.
- Estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone show potential protective effects against mitochondrial dysfunction in AD.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the link between sex hormone loss and mitochondrial dysfunction is crucial for Alzheimer's disease research.
- This knowledge may pave the way for developing gender-specific therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease.
- Targeting mitochondrial pathways could offer novel approaches for Alzheimer's prevention and treatment.
Keywords:
Abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau proteinAgingAlzheimer’s diseaseAmyloid-βBioenergetic impairmentsGender differencesMitochondriaOxidative stressSex steroid hormonesMore Related Videos
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