Roles of β-adrenergic receptors in Alzheimer's disease: implications for novel therapeutics.
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of age-related dementia, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an enormous unmet medical need. In recent years, several unexpected longitudinal and cross-sectional epidemiological studies reveal that beta-blockers treatment reduces the prevalence of AD in patients suffering from hypertension. Now, a newly population-based study of individuals with incident AD demonstrates that beta-blockers are also associated with delay of functional decline. Furthermore, accumulated convincing evidences from cell culture experiments and animal studies have also suggested that β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) may involve in the AD pathogenesis through effects on amyloid-β (Aβ) production or inflammation. This review explores clinical and experimental studies that might help to explain the roles of β-ARs in the AD pathogenesis and the potential underlying mechanisms and whether treatment with β-ARs antagonists provides a new therapeutic option for AD.
Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266071, PR China.
Jin-Tai
JT
Yu
Nai-Dong
ND
Wang
Teng
T
Ma
Hong
H
Jiang
Jun
J
Guan
Lan
L
Tan
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D009638:Norepinephrine