Neurotransmitter Systems in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of global dementia, is a multifactorial process that goes beyond the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and tau protein tangles, including glia cell-mediated neuroinflammation, vascular dysfunction, metabolic alterations, and synaptic loss. Its complex etiology also involves oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Multiple neurotransmitter systems involved in the pathogenesis and the various cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms of AD are thus altered. The cholinergic system, historically the first to be associated with AD, suffers early degeneration and loss of neurons/receptors, correlating with cognitive impairment. The glutamatergic system, the main excitatory system, exhibits excitotoxicity due to increased extracellular glutamate and alterations in NMDA/AMPA receptor distribution, exacerbating neuronal damage. The GABAergic system, the main inhibitor, shows alterations in parvalbumin-positive interneurons, leading to hyperexcitability and dysfunction of neuronal networks. Monoaminergic systems (serotonergic, dopaminergic and noradrenergic) undergo early degeneration in key nuclei such as the raphe and locus coeruleus, contributing to the apathy, depression and sleep disturbances characteristic of AD. Other less explored systems, such as histaminergic and purinergic, are also crucial in cognitive modulation and neuroinflammation. The endocannabinoid system acts as a master modulator with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. These systems do not operate in isolation; their complex interactions generate pathological circuits that amplify neuronal dysfunction. The limited efficacy of current therapies, which are primarily symptomatic, highlights the need for multimodal approaches that may transform AD treatment toward personalized and more effective interventions.