Elucidating the link between the modifiable risk factors of Alzheimer's disease and neuroinflammation.
Increased worldwide longevity through medical interventions, although beneficial, has allowed the age-related Alzheimer's disease (AD) to become an epidemic of the 21st century. AD pathology involves adverse activation of microglia, the immune cells of the brain and resulting chronic neuroinflammation. Certain diets, physical inactivity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus have been identified as the risk factors for developing AD, which may increase the risk of AD by neuroimmune mechanisms primarily through the overactivation of microglia. Thus, modifying these risk factors may represent an alternative therapeutic strategy for lowering the incidence of AD. We highlight the link between select modifiable risk factors and neuroimmune mechanisms, and demonstrate that by controlling microglial activation and neuroinflammation the prevalence of AD may be decreased.
Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7, Canada.
Stephanie M
SM
Schindler
Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7, Canada.
Andis
A
Klegeris
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors
Alzheimer's disease; microgliosis; modifiable risk factors; neurodegeneration; neuroinflammation