The Role of Ectopic Fat in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder increasingly recognized to be associated with metabolic dysfunction. Accumulating evidence suggests that ectopic fat (abnormal fat deposition in non-adipose tissue) is a key factor. This review summarizes the crucial role that ectopic fat plays in the onset and progression of AD, as well as the interrelated pathways through which ectopic fat deposition promotes the pathological process of AD. Adipocytes have been reported to produce and secrete amyloid-β (Aβ), a hallmark pathological feature of AD. Accordingly, ectopic fat may aggravate cerebral Aβ accumulation by impairing peripheral Aβ clearance. In addition, ectopic fat can also cause Insulin Resistance (IR), adipokine dysregulation, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress. Therefore, ectopic fat is closely associated with the progression of AD and may play a contributory role in its pathogenesis. The effects of ectopic fat on the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology were reviewed through mechanisms such as metabolic disorders, inflammatory pathways, and Aβ deposition, and potential intervention strategies for this harmful cycle were highlighted. As current therapies for AD remain limited, new opportunities for its prevention and treatment may be provided through a better understanding of these associations.