Rosiglitazone does not improve cognition or global function when used as adjunctive therapy to AChE inhibitors in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease: two phase 3 studies

The interaction between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease: a review article

Insulin serves multiple functions as a growth-promoting hormone in peripheral tissues. It manages glucose metabolism by promoting glucose uptake into cells and curbing the production of glucose in the liver. Beyond this, insulin fosters cell growth, drives differentiation, aids protein synthesis, and deters degradative processes like glycolysis, lipolysis, and proteolysis. Receptors for insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 are widely expressed in the central nervous system. Their widespread presence in the brain underscores the varied and critical functions of insulin signaling there. Insulin aids in bolstering cognition, promoting neuron extension, adjusting the release and absorption of catecholamines, and controlling the expression and positioning of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Importantly, insulin can effortlessly traverse the blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, insulin resistance (IR)-induced alterations in insulin signaling might hasten brain aging, impacting its plasticity and potentially leading to neurodegeneration. Two primary pathways are responsible for insulin signal transmission: the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway, which oversees metabolic responses, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which guides cell growth, survival, and gene transcription. This review aimed to explore the potential shared metabolic traits between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and IR disorders. It delves into the relationship between AD and IR disorders, their overlapping genetic markers, and shared metabolic indicators. Additionally, it addresses existing therapeutic interventions targeting these intersecting pathways.

Alzheimer's disease phenotype based upon the carrier status of the apolipoprotein E ɛ4 allele

The apolipoprotein E ɛ4 allele (APOE4) is universally acknowledged as the most potent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). APOE4 promotes the initiation and progression of AD. Although the underlying mechanisms are unclearly understood, differences in lipid-bound affinity among the three APOE isoforms may constitute the basis. The protein APOE4 isoform has a high affinity with triglycerides and cholesterol. A distinction in lipid metabolism extensively impacts neurons, microglia, and astrocytes. APOE4 carriers exhibit phenotypic differences from non-carriers in clinical examinations and respond differently to multiple treatments. Therefore, we hypothesized that phenotypic classification of AD patients according to the status of APOE4 carrier will help specify research and promote its use in diagnosing and treating AD. Recent reviews have mainly evaluated the differences between APOE4 allele carriers and non-carriers from gene to protein structures, clinical features, neuroimaging, pathology, the neural network, and the response to various treatments, and have provided the feasibility of phenotypic group classification based on APOE4 carrier status. This review will facilitate the application of APOE phenomics concept in clinical practice and promote further medical research on AD.

Targeting immunometabolic pathways for combination therapy in Alzheimer's disease

The recent success of disease-modifying anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies in slowing Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptoms has been an exciting step forward for the field. Despite successfully clearing amyloid from the brain, however, only modest symptomatic improvement has been demonstrated, and treatment-related side effects such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) limit use for some. These limitations suggest that fully efficacious AD treatment may require combination therapy regimens, as are used in other complex disorders such as cancer and HIV. One reasonable strategy may be to use agents that address the biological changes that predict future amyloid accumulation, or accompany amyloid accumulation in preclinical disease states. Immunometabolic pathways, including the insulin signaling pathway, are dysregulated at the earliest stages of AD, concomitant with amyloid accumulation. It is plausible that agents that target these pathways may work synergistically with anti-amyloid therapies to halt AD progression. Insulin signaling is integrally involved in innate and adaptive immune systems, with pleiotropic effects that moderate pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. Metabolic modulators that enhance insulin sensitivity and function, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and insulin itself have been shown to improve immune function and reduce chronic inflammation. Additional effects of insulin and metabolic modulators demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies of AD include increased clearance of amyloid-β, slowed tau progression, improved vascular function and lipid metabolism, reduced synaptotoxicity, and improved cognitive and functional outcomes. A large number of compounds that treat metabolic disorders have been extensively characterized with respect to mechanism of action and safety, and thus are readily available to be repurposed for combination therapy protocols. Determining the most successful combination regimens of these agents together with disease-modifying therapies, and the appropriate timing of treatment, are promising next steps in the quest to treat and prevent AD.

Exploring the efficient natural products for Alzheimer's disease therapy via Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) models

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a grievous neurodegenerative disorder and a major form of senile dementia, which is partially caused by abnormal amyloid-beta peptide deposition and Tau protein phosphorylation. But until now, the exact pathogenesis of AD and its treatment strategy still need to investigate. Fortunately, natural products have shown potential as therapeutic agents for treating symptoms of AD due to their neuroprotective activity. To identify the excellent lead compounds for AD control from natural products of herbal medicines, as well as, detect their modes of action, suitable animal models are required. Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) is an important model for studying genetic and cellular biological pathways in complex biological processes. Various Drosophila AD models were broadly used for AD research, especially for the discovery of neuroprotective natural products. This review focused on the research progress of natural products in AD disease based on the fruit fly AD model, which provides a reference for using the invertebrate model in developing novel anti-AD drugs.

Antibody-Mediated Clearance of Brain Amyloid-β: Mechanisms of Action, Effects of Natural and Monoclonal Anti-Aβ Antibodies, and Downstream Effects

Immunotherapeutic efforts to slow the clinical progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by lowering brain amyloid-β (Aβ) have included Aβ vaccination, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products, and anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies. Neither Aβ vaccination nor IVIG slowed disease progression. Despite conflicting phase III results, the monoclonal antibody Aducanumab received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatment of AD in June 2021. The only treatments unequivocally demonstrated to slow AD progression to date are the monoclonal antibodies Lecanemab and Donanemab. Lecanemab received FDA approval in January 2023 based on phase II results showing lowering of PET-detectable Aβ; phase III results released at that time indicated slowing of disease progression. Topline results released in May 2023 for Donanemab's phase III trial revealed that primary and secondary end points had been met. Antibody binding to Aβ facilitates its clearance from the brain via multiple mechanisms including promoting its microglial phagocytosis, activating complement, dissolving fibrillar Aβ, and binding of antibody-Aβ complexes to blood-brain barrier receptors. Antibody binding to Aβ in peripheral blood may also promote cerebral efflux of Aβ by a peripheral sink mechanism. According to the amyloid hypothesis, for Aβ targeting to slow AD progression, it must decrease downstream neuropathological processes including tau aggregation and phosphorylation and (possibly) inflammation and oxidative stress. This review discusses antibody-mediated mechanisms of Aβ clearance, findings in AD trials involving Aβ vaccination, IVIG, and anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies, downstream effects reported in those trials, and approaches which might improve the Aβ-clearing ability of monoclonal antibodies.

Current and future therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease: an overview of drug development bottlenecks

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common chronic neurodegenerative disease worldwide. It causes cognitive dysfunction, such as aphasia and agnosia, and mental symptoms, such as behavioral abnormalities; all of which place a significant psychological and economic burden on the patients' families. No specific drugs are currently available for the treatment of AD, and the current drugs for AD only delay disease onset and progression. The pathophysiological basis of AD involves abnormal deposition of beta-amyloid protein (Aβ), abnormal tau protein phosphorylation, decreased activity of acetylcholine content, glutamate toxicity, autophagy, inflammatory reactions, mitochondria-targeting, and multi-targets. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five drugs for clinical use: tacrine, donepezil, carbalatine, galantamine, memantine, and lecanemab. We have focused on the newer drugs that have undergone clinical trials, most of which have not been successful as a result of excessive clinical side effects or poor efficacy. Although aducanumab received rapid approval from the FDA on 7 June 2021, its long-term safety and tolerability require further monitoring and confirmation. In this literature review, we aimed to explore the possible pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of AD. We focused on anti-Aβ and anti-tau drugs, mitochondria-targeting and multi-targets, commercially available drugs, bottlenecks encountered in drug development, and the possible targets and therapeutic strategies for future drug development. We hope to present new concepts and methods for future drug therapies for AD.

Antidiabetic agents as a novel treatment for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

Therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders have commonly targeted individual aspects of the disease pathogenesis to little success. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), are characterized by several pathological features. In AD and PD, there is an abnormal accumulation of toxic proteins, increased inflammation, decreased synaptic function, neuronal loss, increased astrocyte activation, and perhaps a state of insulin resistance. Epidemiological evidence has revealed a link between AD/PD and type 2 diabetes mellitus, with these disorders sharing some pathological commonalities. Such a link has opened up a promising avenue for repurposing antidiabetic agents in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. A successful therapeutic strategy for AD/PD would likely require a single or several agents which target the separate pathological processes in the disease. Targeting cerebral insulin signalling produces numerous neuroprotective effects in preclinical AD/PD brain models. Clinical trials have shown the promise of approved diabetic compounds in improving motor symptoms of PD and preventing neurodegenerative decline, with numerous further phase II trials and phase III trials underway in AD and PD populations. Alongside insulin signalling, targeting incretin receptors in the brain represents one of the most promising strategies for repurposing currently available agents for the treatment of AD/PD. Most notably, glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have displayed impressive clinical potential in preclinical and early clinical studies. In AD the GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, has been demonstrated to improve cerebral glucose metabolism and functional connectivity in small-scale pilot trials. Whilst in PD, the GLP-1 receptor agonist exenatide is effective in restoring motor function and cognition. Targeting brain incretin receptors reduces inflammation, inhibits apoptosis, prevents toxic protein aggregation, enhances long-term potentiation and autophagy as well as restores dysfunctional insulin signalling. Support is also increasing for the use of additional approved diabetic treatments, including intranasal insulin, metformin hydrochloride, peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptor γ agonists, amylin analogs, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors which are in the investigation for deployment in PD and AD treatment. As such, we provide a comprehensive review of several promising anti-diabetic agents for the treatment of AD and PD.

siRNA drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a few FDA-approved drugs that provide modest symptomatic benefits and only two FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments for AD. The advancements in understanding the causative genes and non-coding sequences at the molecular level of the pathophysiology of AD have resulted in several exciting research papers that employed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapy. Although siRNA is being sought by academia and biopharma industries, several challenges still need to be addressed. We comprehensively report the latest advances in AD pathophysiology, druggable targets, ongoing clinical trials, and the siRNA-based approaches across the blood-brain barrier for addressing AD. This review describes the latest delivery systems employed to address this barrier. Critical insights and future perspectives on siRNA therapy for AD are also provided.

The Deficits of Insulin Signal in Alzheimer's Disease and the Mechanisms of Vanadium Compounds in Curing AD

Vanadium is a well-known essential trace element, which usually exists in oxidation states in the form of a vanadate cation intracellularly. The pharmacological study of vanadium began with the discovery of its unexpected inhibitory effect on ATPase. Thereafter, its protective effects on β cells and its ability in glucose metabolism regulation were observed from the vanadium compound, leading to the application of vanadium compounds in clinical trials for curing diabetes. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementia disease in elderly people. However, there are still no efficient agents for treating AD safely to date. This is mainly because of the complexity of the pathology, which is characterized by senile plaques composed of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein in the parenchyma of the brain and the neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which are derived from the hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the neurocyte, along with mitochondrial damage, and eventually the central nervous system (CNS) atrophy. AD was also illustrated as type-3 diabetes because of the observations of insulin deficiency and the high level of glucose in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as the impaired insulin signaling in the brain. In this review, we summarize the advances in applicating the vanadium compound to AD treatment in experimental research and point out the limitations of the current study using vanadium compounds in AD treatment. We hope this will help future studies in this field.

Repositioning of Anti-Diabetic Drugs against Dementia: Insight from Molecular Perspectives to Clinical Trials

Insulin resistance as a hallmark of type 2 DM (T2DM) plays a role in dementia by promoting pathological lesions or enhancing the vulnerability of the brain. Numerous studies related to insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling are linked with various types of dementia. Brain insulin resistance in dementia is linked to disturbances in Aβ production and clearance, Tau hyperphosphorylation, microglial activation causing increased neuroinflammation, and the breakdown of tight junctions in the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These mechanisms have been studied primarily in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but research on other forms of dementia like vascular dementia (VaD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has also explored overlapping mechanisms. Researchers are currently trying to repurpose anti-diabetic drugs to treat dementia, which are dominated by insulin sensitizers and insulin substrates. Although it seems promising and feasible, none of the trials have succeeded in ameliorating cognitive decline in late-onset dementia. We highlight the possibility of repositioning anti-diabetic drugs as a strategy for dementia therapy by reflecting on current and previous clinical trials. We also describe the molecular perspectives of various types of dementia through the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway.

Lipid metabolism and Alzheimer's disease: clinical evidence, mechanistic link and therapeutic promise

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disorder with multifactorial etiology, intersecting genetic and environmental risk factors, and a lack of disease-modifying therapeutics. While the abnormal accumulation of lipids was described in the very first report of AD neuropathology, it was not until recent decades that lipid dyshomeostasis became a focus of AD research. Clinically, lipidomic and metabolomic studies have consistently shown alterations in the levels of various lipid classes emerging in early stages of AD brains. Mechanistically, decades of discovery research have revealed multifaceted interactions between lipid metabolism and key AD pathogenic mechanisms including amyloidogenesis, bioenergetic deficit, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and myelin degeneration. In the present review, converging evidence defining lipid dyshomeostasis in AD is summarized, followed by discussions on mechanisms by which lipid metabolism contributes to pathogenesis and modifies disease risk. Furthermore, lipid-targeting therapeutic strategies, and the modification of their efficacy by disease stage, ApoE status, and metabolic and vascular profiles, are reviewed.

Clinical antidiabetic medication used in Alzheimer's disease: From basic discovery to therapeutics development

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) appears to increase and contributing to the risk of AD. Therefore, there is increasing concern about clinical antidiabetic medication used in AD. Most of them show some potential in basic research, but not in clinical research. So we reviewed the opportunities and challenges faced by some antidiabetic medication used in AD from basic to clinical research. Based on existing research progress, this is still the hope of some patients with special types of AD caused by rising blood glucose or/and insulin resistance.

Development of PPARγ Agonists for the Treatment of Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Leriglitazone as a Promising Candidate

Increasing evidence suggests that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, plays an important role in physiological processes in the central nervous system (CNS) and is involved in cellular metabolism and repair. Cellular damage caused by acute brain injury and long-term neurodegenerative disorders is associated with alterations of these metabolic processes leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. PPARγ agonists have demonstrated the potential to be effective treatments for CNS diseases in preclinical models, but to date, most drugs have failed to show efficacy in clinical trials of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The most likely explanation for this lack of efficacy is the insufficient brain exposure of these PPARγ agonists. Leriglitazone is a novel, blood-brain barrier (BBB)-penetrant PPARγ agonist that is being developed to treat CNS diseases. Here, we review the main roles of PPARγ in physiology and pathophysiology in the CNS, describe the mechanism of action of PPARγ agonists, and discuss the evidence supporting the use of leriglitazone to treat CNS diseases.

Molecular Mechanisms of Neuroinflammation in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Progression

Aging is the most prominent risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Aging associates with a chronic inflammatory state both in the periphery and in the central nervous system, the evidence thereof and the mechanisms leading to chronic neuroinflammation being discussed. Nonetheless, neuroinflammation is significantly enhanced by the accumulation of amyloid beta and accelerates the progression of Alzheimer's disease through various pathways discussed in the present review. Decades of clinical trials targeting the 2 abnormal proteins in Alzheimer's disease, amyloid beta and tau, led to many failures. As such, targeting neuroinflammation via different strategies could prove a valuable therapeutic strategy, although much research is still needed to identify the appropriate time window. Active research focusing on identifying early biomarkers could help translating these novel strategies from bench to bedside.

Effects of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Gamma Agonists on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be a risk factor for dementia, especially in the elderly population, and close associations between diabetes and Alzheimer disease (AD) have been determined. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists are insulin-sensitising drugs. In addition to their anti-diabetic properties, their effectiveness in preventing and decreasing cognitive impairment are the most recent characteristics that have been studied. For this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to critically analyse and evaluate the existing data on the effects of PPAR-γ agonist therapy on the cognitive status of patients. For this purpose, we first analysed both early intervention and later treatment with PPAR-γ agonists, according to the disease status. The involved studies indicated that early PPAR-γ agonist intervention is beneficial for patients and that high-dose PPAR-γ therapy may have a better clinical effect, especially in reversing the effects of cognitive impairment. Furthermore, the efficacy of pioglitazone (PIO) seems to be promising, particularly for patients with comorbid diabetes. PIO presented a better clinical curative effect and safety, compared with rosiglitazone (RSG). Thus, PPAR-γ agonists play an important role in the inflammatory response of AD or DM patients, and clinical therapeutics should focus more on relevant metabolic indices.

Strategies for Treatment of Disease-Associated Dementia Beyond Alzheimer's Disease: An Update

Memory, cognition, dementia, and neurodegeneration are complexly interlinked processes with various mechanistic pathways, leading to a range of clinical outcomes. They are strongly associated with pathological conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and stroke and are a growing concern for their timely diagnosis and management. Several cognitionenhancing interventions for management include non-pharmacological interventions like diet, exercise, and physical activity, while pharmacological interventions include medicinal agents, herbal agents, and nutritional supplements. This review critically analyzed and discussed the currently available agents under different drug development phases designed to target the molecular targets, including cholinergic receptor, glutamatergic system, GABAergic targets, glycine site, serotonergic targets, histamine receptors, etc. Understanding memory formation and pathways involved therein aids in opening the new gateways to treating cognitive disorders. However, clinical studies suggest that there is still a dearth of knowledge about the pathological mechanism involved in neurological conditions, making the dropouts of agents from the initial phases of the clinical trial. Hence, a better understanding of the disease biology, mode of drug action, and interlinked mechanistic pathways at a molecular level is required.

The Strategies for Treating "Alzheimer's Disease": Insulin Signaling May Be a Feasible Target

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by senile plaques formed by amyloid-beta (Aβ) extracellularly and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein intracellularly. Apart from these two features, insulin deficiency and insulin resistance have also been observed in AD brains. Thus, AD has also been referred to as type 3 diabetes by some of the scientists in this field. Insulin plays a pivotal role in learning and memory and is involved in regulating tau phosphorylation though the PI3KAkt-GSK3b signaling pathway. Interestingly, recent studies revealed that in AD brains the microglia transformed into a disease-associated microglia (DAM) status in a TREM2-dependent manner to restrain the toxicity of Aβ and propagation of tau. This also correlated with PI3K-Akt signaling through the adaptor of TREM2. Whether insulin has any effect on microglia activation in AD pathology is unclear so far. However, many studies demonstrated that diabetes increased the risk of AD. In this review, we summarize the main strategies for curing AD, including lowering the level of Aβ, suppressing the phosphorylation of tau, the ablation and/or repopulation of microglia, and especially the supply of insulin. We also propose that attention should be given to the influences of insulin on microglia in AD.

Efficacy and safety of hypoglycemic drugs in improving cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of oral hypoglycaemic drugs (HDs) on cognitive function and biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) through a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

We conducted systematic searches for English- and Chinese-language articles in the PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases, with no date restrictions. We performed a network meta-analysis, which we report here according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The 16 studies included a total of 3,081 patients. We selected the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive section (ADAS-Cog), the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living section (ADCS-ADL) and amyloid beta (Aβ) 42 as the outcome measures for analysis and comparison.

Result

We selected seven treatments and assessed the clinical trials in which they were tested against a placebo control. Of these treatments, intranasal insulin 20 IU (ITSN20), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP-4) were associated with significantly improved MMSE scores (7 RCTs, 333 patients, 30≥MMSE score≥20: mild) compared with placebo [standardized mean difference (SMD) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.87, 1.35); SMD 0.75, 95% CI (0.04, 1.41); and SMD 4.08, 95% CI (3.39, 4.77), respectively]. Rosiglitazone 4 mg (RLZ4), rosiglitazone 10 mg (RLZ10), intranasal insulin 40 IU (ITSN40), and ITSN20 significantly decreased ADAS-Cog scores (11 RCTs, 4044 patients, 10 ≤ ADAS-Cog scores ≤ 30: mild and moderate) compared with placebo [SMD −1.40, 95% CI (−2.57, −0.23), SMD −3.02, 95% CI (−4.17, −1.86), SMD −0.92, 95% CI (−1.77, −0.08), SMD −1.88, 95% CI (−3.09, −0.66)]. Additionally, ITSN20 and ITSN40 significantly improved ADCS-ADL scores (2 RCTs, 208 patients, ADCS-ADL scale score ≤ 10: mild) compared with placebo [SMD 0.02, 95% CI (0.01, 0.03), and SMD 0.04, 95% CI (0.03, 0.05), respectively]. In the 16 included studies, the degree of AD was classified as mild or moderate. For mild cognitive impairment, DPP-4 performed best, but for mild to moderate impairment, ITSN40 had excellent performance.

Conclusion

Various HDs can improve the cognitive function of MCI and AD patients. Different drug regimens brought different degrees of improvement, which may be related to their dosage, duration, and mechanism of action.

Systematic review registration

www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero.

Diabetes: Risk factor and translational therapeutic implications for Alzheimer's disease

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) commonly co-occur. T2DM increases the risk for AD by approximately twofold. Animal models provide one means of interrogating the relationship of T2DM to AD and investigating brain insulin resistance in the pathophysiology of AD. Animal models show that persistent hyperglycaemia results in chronic low-grade inflammation that may contribute to the development of neuroinflammation and accelerate the pathobiology of AD. Epidemiological studies suggest that patients with T2DM who received treatment with specific anti-diabetic agents have a decreased risk for the occurrence of AD and all-cause dementia. Agents such as metformin ameliorate T2DM and may have other important systemic effects that lower the risk of AD. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists have been associated with a decreased risk for AD in patients with T2DM. Both insulin and non-insulin anti-diabetic treatments have been evaluated for the treatment of AD in clinical trials. In most cases, patients included in the trials have clinical features of AD but do not have T2DM. Many of the trials were conducted prior to the use of diagnostic biomarkers for AD. Trials have had a wide range of durations and population sizes. Many of the agents used to treat T2DM do not cross the blood brain barrier, and the effects are posited to occur via lowering of peripheral hyperglycaemia and reduction of peripheral and central inflammation. Clinical trials of anti-diabetic agents to treat AD are ongoing and will provide insight into the therapeutic utility of these agents.

Alzheimer's disease failed clinical trials

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease typically presenting with symptoms of memory loss and cognitive decline. Existing theories for the causation of this focuses on amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles. Most US Food and Drug Administration approved therapies for Alzheimer's disease target cognitive function. A multitude of clinical trials, with a variety of different targets have been conducted over the decades which have focused on the two clinical signs, with the only success being the controversial 2021 approval of an IgG1 anti-Ab antibody targeting the clearance of the Aβ plaques. Presented is a review of all previously failed Alzheimer's disease clinical trials and the rationale for their failures.

Brain insulin resistance and the therapeutic value of insulin and insulin-sensitizing drugs in Alzheimer's disease neuropathology

The incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is significantly higher in people with diabetes. Insulin and insulin receptor (IR) signaling intermediates are expressed in the brain. Insulin exerts multiple function in the brain. The role of compromised IR signaling in AD pathogenesis and the therapeutic value of insulin attract broad attention. This review summarizes the collective insulin action in the brain related to key factors of AD pathogenesis, updates the key features of insulin resistance in the AD brain and assesses the therapeutic potential of insulin and insulin-sensitizing drugs. Insulin stimulates neural growth and survival, suppresses amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (AβPP) and inhibits the Tau phosphorylation kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3β. Central nervous IR signaling regulates systemic metabolism and increases glucose availability to neurons. The expression of IR and its downstream effectors is reduced in AD brain tissues. Insulin and insulin-sensitizing drugs can improve cognitive function in AD patients and AD animal models. Systemic insulin delivery is less effective than intranasal insulin treatment. The penetrance of insulin-sensitizing drugs to the blood brain barrier is problematic and new brain-prone drugs need be developed. Insulin resistance manifested by the degradation and the altered phosphorylation of IR intermediates precedes overt AD syndrome. Type 3 diabetes as a pure form of brain insulin resistance without systemic insulin resistance is proposed as a causal factor in AD. Further research is needed for the identification of critical factors leading to impaired IR signaling and the development of new molecules to stimulate brain IR signaling.

Brain Metabolic Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease

The brain is one of the most energy-consuming organs in the body. Satisfying such energy demand requires compartmentalized, cell-specific metabolic processes, known to be complementary and intimately coupled. Thus, the brain relies on thoroughly orchestrated energy-obtaining agents, processes and molecular features, such as the neurovascular unit, the astrocyte-neuron metabolic coupling, and the cellular distribution of energy substrate transporters. Importantly, early features of the aging process are determined by the progressive perturbation of certain processes responsible for adequate brain energy supply, resulting in brain hypometabolism. These age-related brain energy alterations are further worsened during the prodromal stages of neurodegenerative diseases, namely Alzheimer's disease (AD), preceding the onset of clinical symptoms, and are anatomically and functionally associated with the loss of cognitive abilities. Here, we focus on concrete neuroenergetic features such as the brain's fueling by glucose and lactate, the transporters and vascular system guaranteeing its supply, and the metabolic interactions between astrocytes and neurons, and on its neurodegenerative-related disruption. We sought to review the principles underlying the metabolic dimension of healthy and AD brains, and suggest that the integration of these concepts in the preventive, diagnostic and treatment strategies for AD is key to improving the precision of these interventions.

A PDK-1 allosteric agonist neutralizes insulin signaling derangements and beta-amyloid toxicity in neuronal cells and in vitro

The Alzheimer's brain is affected by multiple pathophysiological processes, which include a unique, organ-specific form of insulin resistance that begins early in its course. An additional complexity arises from the four-fold risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in type 2 diabetics, however there is no definitive proof of causation. Several strategies to improve brain insulin signaling have been proposed and some have been clinically tested. We report findings on a small allosteric molecule that reverses several indices of insulin insensitivity in both cell culture and in vitro models of AD that emphasize the intracellular accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβi). PS48, a chlorophenyl pentenoic acid, is an allosteric activator of PDK-1, which is an Akt-kinase in the insulin/PI3K pathway. PS48 was active at 10 nM to 1 μM in restoring normal insulin-dependent Akt activation and in mitigating Aβi peptide toxicity. Synaptic plasticity (LTP) in prefrontal cortical slices from normal rat exposed to Aβ oligomers also benefited from PS48. During these experiments, neither overstimulation of PI3K/Akt signaling nor toxic effects on cells was observed. Another neurotoxicity model producing insulin insensitivity, utilizing palmitic acid, also responded to PS48 treatment, thus validating the target and indicating that its therapeutic potential may extend outside of β-amyloid reliance. The described in vitro and cell based-in vitro coupled enzymatic assay systems proved suitable platforms to screen a preliminary library of new analogs.

New treatment approaches for Alzheimer's disease: preclinical studies and clinical trials centered on antidiabetic drugs

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represent two major chronic diseases that affect a large percentage of the population and share common pathogenetic mechanisms, including oxidative stress and inflammation. Considering their common mechanistic aspects, and given the current lack of effective therapies for AD, accumulating research has focused on the therapeutic potential of antidiabetic drugs in the treatment or prevention of AD.

AREAS COVERED

This review examines the latest preclinical and clinical evidence on the potential of antidiabetic drugs as candidates for AD treatment. Numerous approved drugs for T2DM, including insulin, metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), are in the spotlight and may constitute novel approaches for AD treatment.

EXPERT OPINION

Among other pharmacologic agents, GLP-1 RA and SGLT2i have so far exhibited promising results as novel treatment approaches for AD, while current research has centered on deciphering their action on the central nervous system (CNS). Further investigation is crucial to reveal the most effective pharmacological agents and their optimal combinations, maximize their beneficial effects on neurons, and find ways to increase their distribution to the CNS.

Metabolic determinants of Alzheimer's disease: A focus on thermoregulation

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex age-related neurodegenerative disease, associated with central and peripheral metabolic anomalies, such as impaired glucose utilization and insulin resistance. These observations led to a considerable interest not only in lifestyle-related interventions, but also in repurposing insulin and other anti-diabetic drugs to prevent or treat dementia. Body temperature is the oldest known metabolic readout and mechanisms underlying its maintenance fail in the elderly, when the incidence of AD rises. This raises the possibility that an age-associated thermoregulatory deficit contributes to energy failure underlying AD pathogenesis. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a central role in thermogenesis and maintenance of body temperature. In recent years, the modulation of BAT activity has been increasingly demonstrated to regulate energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization, which could also provide benefits for AD. Here, we review the evidence linking thermoregulation, BAT and insulin-related metabolic defects with AD, and we propose mechanisms through which correcting thermoregulatory impairments could slow the progression and delay the onset of AD.

Potentiation of microglial endocannabinoid signaling alleviates neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) isaprogressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chronic inflammation due to the presence of neurotoxic Aβ and tau proteins. Increased microglial activation and inflated immune response are the other factors to be considered in AD pathology. Microglial cells own biochemical machinery that synthesizes and release endocannabinoids. The exploitation of therapeutic actions of endocannabinoid system has newly emerged in the field of Alzheimer's disease. The activation of cannabinoid receptors/ cannabinoid system modulates inflammatory responses. This review assesses the association between the microglial endocannabinoid system and neuroinflammation in AD. The data supporting the anti-inflammatory role of pharmacological agents modulating cannabinoid system are also reviewed.

Insulin and Insulin Resistance in Alzheimer's Disease

Insulin plays a range of roles as an anabolic hormone in peripheral tissues. It regulates glucose metabolism, stimulates glucose transport into cells and suppresses hepatic glucose production. Insulin influences cell growth, differentiation and protein synthesis, and inhibits catabolic processes such as glycolysis, lipolysis and proteolysis. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors are expressed on all cell types in the central nervous system. Widespread distribution in the brain confirms that insulin signaling plays important and diverse roles in this organ. Insulin is known to regulate glucose metabolism, support cognition, enhance the outgrowth of neurons, modulate the release and uptake of catecholamine, and regulate the expression and localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Insulin is also able to freely cross the blood–brain barrier from the circulation. In addition, changes in insulin signaling, caused inter alia insulin resistance, may accelerate brain aging, and affect plasticity and possibly neurodegeneration. There are two significant insulin signal transduction pathways: the PBK/AKT pathway which is responsible for metabolic effects, and the MAPK pathway which influences cell growth, survival and gene expression. The aim of this study is to describe the role played by insulin in the CNS, in both healthy people and those with pathologies such as insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease.

Proportion of Women and Reporting of Outcomes by Sex in Clinical Trials for Alzheimer Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Women represent two-thirds of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), and sex differences might affect results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). However, little information exists on differences in sex as reported in RCTs for AD.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the ratio of females to males and the reporting of sex-stratified data in large pharmaceutical RCTs for AD.

DATA SOURCES

A search for pharmaceutical RCTs for AD was conducted on September 4, 2019, using ClinicalTrials.gov with the key word Alzheimer disease, and articles related to those trials were identified using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Searches were conducted between September 4 and October 31, 2019, and between April 15 and May 31, 2020.

STUDY SELECTION

Controlled RCTs that had more than 100 participants and tested the efficacy of drugs or herbal extracts were included. Of 1047 RCTs identified, 409 were published and therefore screened. A total of 77 articles were included in the final analysis, including 56 primary articles on AD, 13 secondary articles on AD, and 8 articles on mild cognitive impairment.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

The location and date of publication; number, sex, and age of patients enrolled; disease severity; experimental or approved status of the drug; and whether the study included a sex-stratified analysis in the protocol, methods, or results were extracted by 1 reviewer for each article, and the meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. Data were analyzed using a mixed-effects model.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The mean proportion of women enrolled in the trials and the associations between prespecified variables were analyzed. The proportion of articles that included sex-stratified results and the temporal trends in the reporting of these results were also studied.

RESULTS

In this review of 56 RCTs for AD involving 39 575 participants, 23 348 women (59.0%) were included. The mean (SD) proportion of women in RCTs of approved drugs was 67.3% (6.9%), and in RCTs of experimental drugs was 57.9% (5.9%). The proportion of women in RCTs of experimental drugs was significantly lower than the proportion of women in the general population with AD in the US (62.1%; difference, -4.56% [95% CI, -6.29% to -2.87%]; P < .001) and Europe (68.2%; difference, -10.67% [95% CI, -12.39% to -8.97%]; P < .001). Trials of approved drugs had a higher probability of including women than trials of experimental drugs (odds ratio [OR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05-1.52; P = .02). Both the severity of AD at baseline and the trial location were associated with the probability of women being enrolled in trials (severity: OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-1.00; P = .02; location in Europe: OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05-1.52; P = .01; location in North America: OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.71-0.93; P = .002). Only 7 articles (12.5%) reported sex-stratified results, with an increasing temporal trend (R, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.05-0.59; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the proportion of women in RCTs for AD, although higher than the proportion of men, was significantly lower than that in the general population. Only a small proportion of trials reported sex-stratified results. These findings support strategies to improve diversity in enrollment and data reporting in RCTs for AD.

Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease: Might Mitochondrial Dysfunction Help Deciphering the Common Path?

A growing number of clinical and epidemiological studies support the hypothesis of a tight correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the development risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Indeed, the proposed definition of Alzheimer's disease as type 3 diabetes (T3D) underlines the key role played by deranged insulin signaling to accumulation of aggregated amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the senile plaques of the brain. Metabolic disturbances such as hyperglycemia, peripheral hyperinsulinemia, dysregulated lipid metabolism, and chronic inflammation associated with T2DM are responsible for an inefficient transport of insulin to the brain, producing a neuronal insulin resistance that triggers an enhanced production and deposition of Aβ and concomitantly contributes to impairment in the micro-tubule-associated protein Tau, leading to neural degeneration and cognitive decline. Furthermore, the reduced antioxidant capacity observed in T2DM patients, together with the impairment of cerebral glucose metabolism and the decreased performance of mitochondrial activity, suggests the existence of a relationship between oxidative damage, mitochondrial impairment, and cognitive dysfunction that could further reinforce the common pathophysiology of T2DM and AD. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms by which insulin-signaling dysregulation in T2DM can contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of AD, deepening the analysis of complex mechanisms involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under oxidative stress and their possible influence in AD and T2DM. In addition, the role of current therapies as tools for prevention or treatment of damage induced by oxidative stress in T2DM and AD will be debated.

Targeting Nuclear Receptors in Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation

Nuclear receptors, also known as ligand-activated transcription factors, regulate gene expression upon ligand signals and present as attractive therapeutic targets especially in chronic diseases. Despite the therapeutic relevance of some nuclear receptors in various pathologies, their potential in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation is insufficiently established. This perspective gathers preclinical and clinical data for a potential role of individual nuclear receptors as future targets in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, and concomitantly evaluates the level of medicinal chemistry targeting these proteins. Considerable evidence suggests the high promise of ligand-activated transcription factors to counteract neurodegenerative diseases with a particularly high potential of several orphan nuclear receptors. However, potent tools are lacking for orphan receptors, and limited central nervous system exposure or insufficient selectivity also compromises the suitability of well-studied nuclear receptor ligands for functional studies. Medicinal chemistry efforts are needed to develop dedicated high-quality tool compounds for the therapeutic validation of nuclear receptors in neurodegenerative pathologies.

Reassessment of Pioglitazone for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a quintessential 'unmet medical need', accounting for ∼65% of progressive cognitive impairment among the elderly, and 700,000 deaths in the United States in 2020. In 2019, the cost of caring for Alzheimer's sufferers was $244B, not including the emotional and physical toll on caregivers. In spite of this dismal reality, no treatments are available that reduce the risk of developing AD or that offer prolonged mitiagation of its most devestating symptoms. This review summarizes key aspects of the biology and genetics of Alzheimer's disease, and we describe how pioglitazone improves many of the patholophysiological determinants of AD. We also summarize the results of pre-clinical experiments, longitudinal observational studies, and clinical trials. The results of animal testing suggest that pioglitazone can be corrective as well as protective, and that its efficacy is enhanced in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but the dose-effect relations are not monotonic or sigmoid. Longitudinal cohort studies suggests that it delays the onset of dementia in individuals with pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus, which small scale, unblinded pilot studies seem to confirm. However, the results of placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trials have not borne this out, and we discuss possible explanations for these discrepancies.

Antidiabetic Drugs in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Considering that Alzheimer's disease (AD) and diabetes mellitus share pathophysiological features and AD remains with no cure, antidiabetic drugs like intranasal insulin, glitazones, metformin, and liraglutide are being tested as a potential treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of antidiabetic drugs in patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs). Cognition was studied as the primary outcome and modulation of AD biomarkers, and imaging was also assessed as a secondary outcome.

METHODS

We conducted a search in the electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus seeking clinical trials evaluating the effect on cognition of antidiabetic drugs in patients with AD, MCI, or SCCs.

RESULTS

A total of 23 articles were found eligible. Intranasal regular insulin improved verbal memory in most studies, especially in apoE4- patients, but results in other cognitive domains were unclear. Detemir improved cognition after 2 months of treatment, but it did not after 4 months. Pioglitazone improved cognition in diabetic patients with AD or MCI in 3 clinical trials, but it is controversial as 2 other studies did not show effect. Metformin and liraglutide showed promising results, but further research is needed as just 2 clinical trials involved each of these drugs. Almost all drugs tested were shown to modulate AD biomarkers and imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

Intranasal insulin, pioglitazone, metformin, and liraglutide are promising drugs that could be useful in the treatment of AD. However, many questions remain to be answered in future studies, so no particular antidiabetic drug can currently be recommended to treat AD.

Alzheimer's Disease Animal Models: Elucidation of Biomarkers and Therapeutic Approaches for Cognitive Impairment

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It is widely accepted that AD is mainly caused by the accumulation of extracellular amyloid β (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tau tangles. Aβ begins to accumulate years before the onset of cognitive impairment, suggesting that the benefit of currently available interventions would be greater if they were initiated in the early phases of AD. To understand the mechanisms of AD pathogenesis, various transgenic mouse models with an accelerated accumulation of Aβ and tau tangles have been developed. However, none of these models exhibit all pathologies present in human AD. To overcome these undesirable phenotypes, APP knock-in mice, which were presented with touchscreen-based tasks, were developed to better evaluate the efficacy of candidate therapeutics in mouse models of early-stage AD. This review assesses several AD mouse models from the aspect of biomarkers and cognitive impairment and discusses their potential as tools to provide novel AD therapeutic approaches.

Targeting impaired nutrient sensing with repurposed therapeutics to prevent or treat age-related cognitive decline and dementia: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Dementia is a debilitating syndrome that significantly impacts individuals over the age of 65 years. There are currently no disease-modifying treatments for dementia. Impairment of nutrient sensing pathways has been implicated in the pathogenesis of dementia, and may offer a novel treatment approach for dementia.

AIMS

This systematic review collates all available evidence for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapeutics that modify nutrient sensing in the context of preventing cognitive decline or improving cognition in ageing, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia populations.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched using key search terms focusing on available therapeutics such as 'metformin', 'GLP1', 'insulin' and the dementias including 'Alzheimer's disease' and 'Parkinson's disease'. Articles were screened using Covidence systematic review software (Veritas Health Innovation, Melbourne, Australia). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool v 2.0 for human studies and SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies.

RESULTS

Out of 2619 articles, 114 were included describing 31 different 'modulation of nutrient sensing pathway' therapeutics, 13 of which specifically were utilized in human interventional trials for normal ageing or dementia. Growth hormone secretagogues improved cognitive outcomes in human mild cognitive impairment, and potentially normal ageing populations. In animals, all investigated therapeutic classes exhibited some cognitive benefits in dementia models. While the risk of bias was relatively low in human studies, this risk in animal studies was largely unclear.

CONCLUSIONS

Modulation of nutrient sensing pathway therapeutics, particularly growth hormone secretagogues, have the potential to improve cognitive outcomes. Overall, there is a clear lack of translation from animal models to human populations.

Role of insulin receptor substance-1 modulating PI3K/Akt insulin signaling pathway in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, also regarded as "type 3 diabetes" for the last few years because of the brain insulin resistance (IR) and dysregulation of insulin signaling in the brain, which can further promote pathological progression of AD. IRS-1/PI3K/Akt insulin signaling pathway disorder and its downstream cascade reaction are responsible for cognitive decline in the brain. In recent years, a growing number of studies has documented that dysregulation of insulin signaling is a key feature of AD and has crucial correlations with serine/tyrosine (Ser/Tyr) phosphorylation of insulin receptor substance-1(IRS-1). Phosphorylation of this protein has been identified as an important molecule involved in the process of amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition into senile plaques (SPs) and tau hyperphosphorylation into neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). In this paper, we review the links between IRS-1 and the PI3K/Akt insulin signaling pathway, and highlight phosphorylated IRS-1 which negatively regulated by downstream effector of Akt such as mTOR, S6K, and JNK, among others in AD. Furthermore, anti-diabetic drugs including metformin, thiazolidinediones, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue could modulate IRS-1 phosphorylation, brain IR, PI3K/Akt insulin signaling pathway, and other pathologic processes of AD. The above suggest that anti-diabetic drugs may be promising strategies for AD disease-modifying treatments.

Preventive and Therapeutic Strategies in Alzheimer's Disease: Focus on Oxidative Stress, Redox Metals, and Ferroptosis

Significance: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. AD is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death, but some sources put it as third, after heart disease and cancer. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic approaches to treat or slow the progression of chronic neurodegeneration. In addition to the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau, AD patients show progressive neuronal loss and neuronal death, also high oxidative stress that correlates with abnormal levels or overload of brain metals. Recent Advances: Several promising compounds targeting oxidative stress, redox metals, and neuronal death are under preclinical or clinical evaluation as an alternative or complementary therapeutic strategy in mild cognitive impairment and AD. Here, we present a general analysis and overview, discuss limitations, and suggest potential directions for these treatments for AD and related dementia. Critical Issues: Most of the disease-modifying therapeutic strategies for AD under evaluation in clinical trials have focused on components of the amyloid cascade, including antibodies to reduce levels of Aβ and tau, as well as inhibitors of secretases. Unfortunately, several of the amyloid-focused therapeutics have failed the clinical outcomes or presented side effects, and numerous clinical trials of compounds have been halted, reducing realistic options for the development of effective AD treatments. Future Directions: The focus of research on AD and related dementias is shifting to alternative or innovative areas, such as ApoE, lipids, synapses, oxidative stress, cell death mechanisms, neuroimmunology, and neuroinflammation, as well as brain metabolism and bioenergetics.

Co-nanoencapsulated meloxicam and curcumin improves cognitive impairment induced by amyloid-beta through modulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in mice

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder and complex mechanisms are involved in the physiopathology of AD. However, there is data suggesting that inflammation plays a role in its development and progression. Indeed, some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as meloxicam, which act by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) have been used as neuroprotective agents in different neurodegenerative disease models. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of co-nanoencapsulated curcumin and meloxicam in lipid core nanocapsules (LCN) on cognitive impairment induced by amyloid-beta peptide injection in mice. LCN were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method. Male Swiss mice received a single intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid-beta peptide aggregates (fragment 25–35, 3 nmol/3 μL) or vehicle and were subsequently treated with curcumin-loaded LCN (10 mg/kg) or meloxicam-loaded LCN (5 mg/kg) or meloxicam + curcumin-co-loaded LCN (5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively). Treatments were given on alternate days for 12 days (i.e., six doses, once every 48 hours, by intragastric gavage). Our data showed that amyloid-beta peptide infusion caused long-term memory deficits in the inhibitory avoidance and object recognition tests in mice. In the inhibitory avoidance test, both meloxicam and curcumin formulations (oil or co-loaded LCN) improved amyloid-beta-induced memory impairment in mice. However, only meloxicam and curcumin-co-loaded LCN attenuated non-aversive memory impairment in the object recognition test. Moreover, the beneficial effects of meloxicam and curcumin-co-loaded LCN could be explained by the anti-inflammatory properties of these drugs through cortical COX-2 downregulation. Our study suggests that the neuroprotective potential of meloxicam and curcumin co-nanoencapsulation is associated with cortical COX-2 modulation. This study was approved by the Committee on Care and Use of Experimental Animal Resources, the Federal University of Pampa, Brazil (approval No. 02-2015) on April 16, 2015.

Intranasal Insulin for Alzheimer's Disease

Brain insulin signaling contributes to memory function and might be a viable target in the prevention and treatment of memory impairments including Alzheimer's disease. This short narrative review explores the potential of central nervous system (CNS) insulin administration via the intranasal pathway to improve memory performance in health and disease, with a focus on the most recent results. Proof-of-concept studies and (pilot) clinical trials in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease indicate that acute and prolonged intranasal insulin administration enhances memory performance, and suggest that brain insulin resistance is a pathophysiological factor in Alzheimer's disease with or without concomitant metabolic dysfunction. Intranasally administered insulin is assumed to trigger improvements in synaptic plasticity and regional glucose uptake as well as alleviations of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology; additional contributions of changes in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity and sleep-related mechanisms are discussed. While intranasal insulin delivery has been conclusively demonstrated to be effective and safe, the recent outcomes of large-scale clinical studies underline the need for further investigations, which might also yield new insights into sex differences in the response to intranasal insulin and contribute to the optimization of delivery devices to grasp the full potential of intranasal insulin for Alzheimer's disease.

A Precision Medicine Approach to Treating Alzheimer's Disease Using Rosiglitazone Therapy: A Biomarker Analysis of the REFLECT Trials

BACKGROUND

The REFLECT trials were conducted to examine the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease utilizing a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist.

OBJECTIVE

To generate a predictive biomarker indicative of positive treatment response using samples from the previously conducted REFLECT trials.

METHODS

Data were analyzed on 360 participants spanning multiple negative REFLECT trials, which included treatment with rosiglitazone and rosiglitazone XR. Support vector machine analyses were conducted to generate a predictive biomarker profile.

RESULTS

A pre-defined 6-protein predictive biomarker (IL6, IL10, CRP, TNFα, FABP-3, and PPY) correctly classified treatment response with 100%accuracy across study arms for REFLECT Phase II trial (AVA100193) and multiple Phase III trials (AVA105640, AV102672, and AVA102670). When the data was combined across all rosiglitazone trial arms, a global RSG-predictive biomarker with the same 6-protein predictive biomarker was able to accurately classify 98%of treatment responders.

CONCLUSION

A predictive biomarker comprising of metabolic and inflammatory markers was highly accurate in identifying those patients most likely to experience positive treatment response across the REFLECT trials. This study provides additional proof-of-concept that a predictive biomarker can be utilized to help with screening and predicting treatment response, which holds tremendous benefit for clinical trials.

Relationships between memory decline and the use of metformin or DPP4 inhibitors in people with type 2 diabetes with normal cognition or Alzheimer's disease, and the role APOE carrier status

INTRODUCTION

Few studies have examined memory decline among patients with type 2 diabetes using different oral hypoglycemic drugs.

METHODS

Participants with normal cognition (NC) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia using a hypoglycemic medication (2005 to 2019) were identified from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database. Delayed memory was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale Revised-Logical Memory test. Associations between oral drug classes and memory over time were examined using mixed-effects models with inverse probability treatment weights.

RESULTS

In NC (n = 1192), metformin use was associated with better memory performance over time, whereas in AD (n = 807), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor use was associated with a slower rate of memory decline. Interaction effects suggested greater benefit associated with DPP4 inhibitor use among APOE ε4 carriers.

DISCUSSION

Associations between different oral hypoglycemic drugs and memory change were not consistent between cognitively normal elderly and those with AD dementia. APOE ε4 genotype modified some relationships.

Characterization of the Meal-Stimulated Incretin Response and Relationship With Structural Brain Outcomes in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are often characterized by systemic markers of insulin resistance; however, the broader effects of AD on other relevant metabolic hormones, such as incretins that affect insulin secretion and food intake, remains less clear.

METHODS

Here, we leveraged a physiologically relevant meal tolerance test to assess diagnostic differences in these metabolic responses in cognitively healthy older adults (CH; n = 32) and AD (n = 23) participants. All individuals also underwent a comprehensive clinical examination, cognitive evaluation, and structural magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

The meal-stimulated response of glucose, insulin, and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) was significantly greater in individuals with AD as compared to CH. Voxel-based morphometry revealed negative relationships between brain volume and the meal-stimulated response of insulin, C-Peptide, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) in primarily parietal brain regions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings are consistent with prior work that shows differences in metabolic regulation in AD and relationships with cognition and brain structure.

Hyperinsulinemia or Insulin Resistance: What Impacts the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), which is often accompanied by hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, is associated with an increased risk for developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the underlying mechanisms for this association are still unclear. Recent findings have shown that hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance can coexist or be independent events. This makes it imperative to determine the contribution of these individual conditions in impacting AD. This literature review highlights the recent developments of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance involvement in the progression and pathogenesis of AD.

Repositioning medication for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease to delay the onset and prevent progression of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. As with other common chronic diseases, multiple risk factors contribute to the onset and progression of AD. Many researchers have evaluated the epidemiologic and pathophysiological association between AD, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and cerebrovascular diseases (CBVDs), including commonly reported risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Relevant therapies of CVDs/CBVDs for the attenuation of AD have also been empirically investigated. Considering the challenges of new drug development, in terms of cost and time, multifactorial approaches such as therapeutic repositioning of CVD/CBVD medication should be explored to delay the onset and progression of AD. Thus, in this review, we discuss our current understanding of the association between cardiovascular risk factors and AD, as revealed by clinical and non-clinical studies, as well as the therapeutic implications of CVD/CBVD medication that may attenuate AD. Furthermore, we discuss future directions by evaluating ongoing trials in the field.

Revisiting the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis: From Anti-Aβ Therapeutics to Auspicious New Ways for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder related to age, characterized by the cerebral deposition of fibrils, which are made from the amyloid-β (Aβ), a peptide of 40–42 amino acids. The conversion of Aβ into neurotoxic oligomeric, fibrillar, and protofibrillar assemblies is supposed to be the main pathological event in AD. After Aβ accumulation, the clinical symptoms fall out predominantly due to the deficient brain clearance of the peptide. For several years, researchers have attempted to decline the Aβ monomer, oligomer, and aggregate levels, as well as plaques, employing agents that facilitate the reduction of Aβ and antagonize Aβ aggregation, or raise Aβ clearance from brain. Unluckily, broad clinical trials with mild to moderate AD participants have shown that these approaches were unsuccessful. Several clinical trials are running involving patients whose disease is at an early stage, but the preliminary outcomes are not clinically impressive. Many studies have been conducted against oligomers of Aβ which are the utmost neurotoxic molecular species. Trials with monoclonal antibodies directed against Aβ oligomers have exhibited exciting findings. Nevertheless, Aβ oligomers maintain equivalent states in both monomeric and aggregation forms; so, previously administered drugs that precisely decrease Aβ monomer or Aβ plaques ought to have displayed valuable clinical benefits. In this article, Aβ-based therapeutic strategies are discussed and several promising new ways to fight against AD are appraised.

Antidiabetic drugs for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: Repurposing insulin, metformin, and thiazolidinediones

Medical and scientific communities have been striving to disentangle the complexity of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), in order to develop a cure or effective treatment for these diseases. Along this journey, it has become important to identify the early events occurring in the prodromal phases of these diseases and the disorders that increase the risk of neurodegeneration highlighting common pathological features. This strategy has led to a wealth of evidence identifying diabetes, mainly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as a main risk factor for the onset and progression of AD and PD. Impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction are features common to both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and AD and PD, and they appear before clinical diagnosis of the two neurodegenerative diseases. These could represent the strategic nodes of therapeutic intervention. Following this line of thought, a conceivable approach is to repurpose antidiabetic drugs as valuable agents that may prevent or reduce the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. This review summarizes the past and current findings that link AD and PD with T2DM, emphasizing the common pathological mechanisms. The efficacy of antidiabetic drugs, namely intranasal insulin, metformin, and thiazolidinediones, in the prevention and/or treatment of AD and PD is also discussed.

Status and future directions of clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid-β (Aβ) senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of tau are generally recognized as the culprits of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementia. About 25 years ago, the amyloid cascade hypotheses postulated a direct correlation of plaques with the development of AD, and it has been the dominant theory since then. In this period, more than 200 clinical trials focused mainly on targeting components of the Aβ cascade have dramatically failed, some of them in Phase III. With a greater than 99.6% failure rate at a cost of several billion from governments, industry, and private funders, therapeutic strategies targeting amyloid and tau are now under scrutiny. Therefore, it is time to reevaluate alternatives to targeting Aβ and tau as effective therapeutic strategies for AD. The diagnosis of AD is currently based on medical examination of symptoms including tests to assess memory impairment, attention, language, and other thinking skills. This is complemented with brain scans, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or positron emission tomography with the help of imaging probes targeting Aβ or tau deposits. This approach has contributed to the tunnel vision focus on Aβ and tau as the main culprits of AD. However, events upstream of these proteopathies (age-related impaired neuronal bioenergetics, lysosome function, neurotrophic signaling, and neuroinflammation, among others) are almost surely where the development of alternative therapeutic interventions should be targeted. Here, we present the current status of therapeutic candidates targeting diverse mechanisms and strategies including Aβ and tau, proteins involved in Aβ production and trafficking (ApoE, α/β/γ-secretases), neuroinflammation, neurotransmitters, neuroprotective agents antimicrobials, and gene and stem cell therapy. There are currently around 33 compounds in Phase III, 78 in Phase II, and 32 more in Phase I trials. With the current world health crisis of increased dementia in a rapidly aging population, effective AD therapies are desperately needed.

The impact of acute rosiglitazone on insulin pharmacokinetics at the blood-brain barrier

INTRODUCTION

CNS insulin levels are decreased and insulin receptor signalling is dampened in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increasing CNS insulin levels through a variety of methods has been shown to improve memory. Indeed, medications routinely used to improve insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes are now being repurposed for memory enhancement. CNS insulin is primarily derived from the circulation, by an active transport system at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The goal of this study was to determine whether rosiglitazone (RSG), a drug used to improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes, could enhance insulin transport at the BBB, as a potential therapeutic for improving memory.

METHODS

Using radioactively labelled insulin and the multiple-time regression analysis technique, we measured the rate of insulin BBB transport and level of vascular binding in mice pretreated with vehicle or 10 µg RSG in the presence or absence of an insulin receptor inhibitor.

RESULTS

Although we found acute RSG administration does not affect insulin transport at the BBB, it does restore BBB vascular binding of insulin in an insulin receptor-resistant state.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute RSG treatment does not alter insulin BBB transport in healthy mice but can restore insulin receptor binding at the BBB in an insulin-resistant state.