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Melatonin: A potential nighttime guardian against Alzheimer's
Zefan Zhang1,2, Pei Xue3, Barbara B Bendlin4,5,6
1Department of Big Data in Health Science, Zhejiang University School of Public Health and Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Melatonin shows promise for Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention and treatment due to its antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. Further research and clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety for AD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents a significant global health challenge.
- Melatonin, a natural hormone and antioxidant, is being investigated for its potential role in AD.
- Existing research suggests melatonin may impact key AD pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential preventive and therapeutic roles of melatonin in Alzheimer's disease.
- To explore the mechanisms by which melatonin may affect AD pathologies.
- To identify gaps in current knowledge and suggest future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of studies on melatonin and Alzheimer's disease.
- Analysis of proposed mechanisms including effects on amyloid-beta and tau.
- Evaluation of melatonin's antioxidant, immune-modulating, and circadian regulatory functions.
Main Results:
- Melatonin exhibits potential neuroprotective effects relevant to AD.
- Mechanisms include influencing amyloid-beta and tau pathology, enhancing antioxidant defense, modulating immunity, and regulating circadian rhythms.
- Evidence suggests melatonin's promise in both preventing and treating AD.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin is a promising candidate for Alzheimer's disease intervention.
- Further randomized clinical trials are essential to establish optimal dosage, timing, and long-term safety.
- Future research should focus on clinical translation to harness melatonin's neuroprotective potential for AD mitigation.
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