Neural stem cells promote neuroplasticity: a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Nanocarrier-mediated siRNA delivery: a new approach for the treatment of traumatic brain injury-related Alzheimer's disease

Traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease share pathological similarities, including neuronal loss, amyloid-β deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and cognitive deficits. Furthermore, traumatic brain injury can exacerbate Alzheimer's disease-like pathologies, potentially leading to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Nanocarriers offer a potential solution by facilitating the delivery of small interfering RNAs across the blood-brain barrier for the targeted silencing of key pathological genes implicated in traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease. Unlike traditional approaches to neuroregeneration, this is a molecular-targeted strategy, thus avoiding non-specific drug actions. This review focuses on the use of nanocarrier systems for the efficient and precise delivery of siRNAs, discussing the advantages, challenges, and future directions. In principle, siRNAs have the potential to target all genes and non-targetable proteins, holding significant promise for treating various diseases. Among the various therapeutic approaches currently available for neurological diseases, siRNA gene silencing can precisely "turn off" the expression of any gene at the genetic level, thus radically inhibiting disease progression; however, a significant challenge lies in delivering siRNAs across the blood-brain barrier. Nanoparticles have received increasing attention as an innovative drug delivery tool for the treatment of brain diseases. They are considered a potential therapeutic strategy with the advantages of being able to cross the blood-brain barrier, targeted drug delivery, enhanced drug stability, and multifunctional therapy. The use of nanoparticles to deliver specific modified siRNAs to the injured brain is gradually being recognized as a feasible and effective approach. Although this strategy is still in the preclinical exploration stage, it is expected to achieve clinical translation in the future, creating a new field of molecular targeted therapy and precision medicine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease associated with traumatic brain injury.

Neurodegenerative diseases: Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are a class of diseases in which the progressive loss of subtype-specific neurons leads to dysfunction. NDDs include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), among others. Previous studies have demonstrated that the pathogenesis of NDDs involves various mechanisms, including genetic factors, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and the immune response. Recent studies have shown that epigenetic regulation mediates the interactions between DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs, thus affecting gene transcription. A growing body of research links epigenetic modifications to crucial pathways involved in the occurrence and development of NDDs. Epigenetics has also been found to regulate and maintain nervous system function, and its imbalance is closely related to the occurrence and development of NDDs. The present review summarizes focuses on the role of epigenetic modifications in the pathogenesis of NDDs and provides an overview of the key genes regulated by DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs in NDDs. Further, the current research status of epigenetics in NDDs is summarized and the potential application of epigenetics in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of NDDs is discussed.

The complex roles of m 6 A modifications in neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and self-renewal and implications for memory and neurodegenerative diseases

N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A), the most prevalent and conserved RNA modification in eukaryotic cells, profoundly influences virtually all aspects of mRNA metabolism. mRNA plays crucial roles in neural stem cell genesis and neural regeneration, where it is highly concentrated and actively involved in these processes. Changes in m 6 A modification levels and the expression levels of related enzymatic proteins can lead to neurological dysfunction and contribute to the development of neurological diseases. Furthermore, the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, as well as nerve regeneration, are intimately linked to memory function and neurodegenerative diseases. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the roles of m 6 A in neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and self-renewal, as well as its implications in memory and neurodegenerative diseases. m 6 A has demonstrated divergent effects on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. These observed contradictions may arise from the time-specific nature of m 6 A and its differential impact on neural stem cells across various stages of development. Similarly, the diverse effects of m 6 A on distinct types of memory could be attributed to the involvement of specific brain regions in memory formation and recall. Inconsistencies in m 6 A levels across different models of neurodegenerative disease, particularly Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, suggest that these disparities are linked to variations in the affected brain regions. Notably, the opposing changes in m 6 A levels observed in Parkinson's disease models exposed to manganese compared to normal Parkinson's disease models further underscore the complexity of m 6 A's role in neurodegenerative processes. The roles of m 6 A in neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and self-renewal, and its implications in memory and neurodegenerative diseases, appear contradictory. These inconsistencies may be attributed to the time-specific nature of m 6 A and its varying effects on distinct brain regions and in different environments.

Conditioned medium derived from mesenchymal stem cells and spinal cord injury: A review of the current therapeutic capacities

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition of the nervous system that imposes considerable challenges for subjects, such as bladder and bowel incontinence and infections. The standard therapeutic strategy is methylprednisolone utilization accompanied by surgical decompression. However, achieving an effective therapy with the minimum side effects for SCI is still a puzzle. Nowadays, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has received much consideration in scientific communities in light of its pharmacological and therapeutic properties, for instance, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, analgesic, and immunomodulatory influences. Despite the mentioned advantages for MSCs, their tumorigenic potential is a limiting agent for its wide therapeutic application. Recent documents show that the use of conditioned medium (CM) derived from MSCs can largely solve these problems. CM encompasses neuroprotective growth factors and cytokines, such as stem cell factor (SCF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The persuasive evidence from experimental studies revealed that CM originating from MSCs can have a considerable role in the amelioration of SCI. Hence, in the current papers, we will review and summarize evidence indicating the anti-SCI mechanisms of MSC-derived CM by relying the current experimental data.

Cell-based regenerative and rejuvenation strategies for treating neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are age-related disorders which severely impact quality of life and impose significant societal burdens. Cellular senescence is a critical factor in these disorders, contributing to their onset and progression by promoting permanent cell cycle arrest and reducing cellular function, affecting various types of cells in brain. Recent advancements in regenerative medicine have highlighted "R3" strategies-rejuvenation, regeneration, and replacement-as promising therapeutic approaches for neurodegeneration. This review aims to critically analyze the role of cellular senescence in neurodegenerative diseases and organizes therapeutic approaches within the R3 regenerative medicine paradigm. Specifically, we examine stem cell therapy, direct lineage reprogramming, and partial reprogramming in the context of R3, emphasizing how these interventions mitigate cellular senescence and counteracting aging-related neurodegeneration. Ultimately, this review seeks to provide insights into the complex interplay between cellular senescence and neurodegeneration while highlighting the promise of cell-based regenerative strategies to address these debilitating conditions.

Exploring the potential of stem cell therapy: Applications, types, and future directions

One of the most significant treatment approaches now accessible is stem cell therapy. Over the last few decades, a lot of study has been done in this field, and this fascinating feature of plasticity could have therapeutic uses. The potential of stem cells to restore function lost as a result of disease, trauma, congenital defects, and age has made stem cell research a key priority for scientific and medical organizations across the world. Stem cells are a crucial topic of study in regenerative medicine because of their capacity to replace, repair, or regenerate damaged cells, tissues, or organs. As a result, stem cell therapy is being used as a treatment strategy for a number of illnesses. Because stem cells may proliferate indefinitely and generate vast quantities of differentiated cells needed for transplantation, they hold enormous promise for regenerative medicine. Stem cells can be reprogrammed from adult cell types or originate from embryonic or fetal origins. Depending on their availability and place of origin, stem cells can be totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, oligopotent, or unipotent. With stem cell treatment, many ailments, including diabetes, liver disease, infertility, wounds and traumas, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, might be cured. Various types of stem cell treatment are described in this review along with their applications in different therapeutic fields, ethical considerations, and advantages and disadvantages.

Non-pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's disease: an update

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that significantly impairs memory, cognitive function, and the ability to perform daily tasks. The pathological features of AD include β-amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss. Current AD treatments target pathological changes but often fail to noticeably slow disease progression and can cause severe complications, limiting their effectiveness. In addition to therapies targeting the core pathology of AD, a more comprehensive approach may be needed for its treatment. In recent years, non-pharmacological treatments such as physical therapy, exercise therapy, cell therapy, and nanoparticles have shown great potential in mitigating disease progression and alleviating clinical symptoms. This article reviews recent advances in non-pharmacological treatment approaches for AD, highlighting their contributions to AD management and facilitating the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies.

The Nerve-Induced Adipose Stem Cells Promote Nerve Repair in Stress Urinary Incontinence by Regulating Schwann Cell Repair Phenotype Conversion Through Activation of the Notch Pathway

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) currently lacks effective treatment options, and the restoration of neurological function remains a major challenge, with unmet clinical needs. Research has indicated that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can be induced to differentiate into neural-induced adipose-derived stem cells (NI-ADSCs) under specific inductive conditions, exhibiting excellent neuroregenerative capabilities. ADSCs were obtained from female SD rats and induced into NI-ADSCs. In vitro, NI-ADSCs were co-cultured with Schwann cells (SCs) to investigate their effects on SC proliferation and repair phenotype transition and further explore its underlying mechanism. In vivo, a rat model of SUI was established using a bilateral pudendal nerve transection method. NI-ADSCs were injected into the urethral sphincter to evaluate their effects on urodynamics, muscle angiogenesis, and neural repair in SUI rats, while also exploring the mechanisms of neural repair. This study used EGF, FGF, and B27 to induce ADSCs into NI-ADSCs expressing neural induction markers (MAP, Nestin, and PAX6). In vitro experiments found no significant difference in the proliferation of L6 and RSC96 between NI-ADSCs and ADSCs (p > 0.05). However, when co-cultured with NI-ADSCs, SCs showed upregulated expression of repair-related phenotypic markers (BDNF, GDNF, and GFAP). In this phenotypic transformation process, the expression of Notch-related pathway proteins (Notch1, NICD, and Hes1) was increased, and the use of DAPT (a Notch pathway inhibitor) could suppress the SC repair phenotype transformation. In vivo, experiments revealed that intraurethral injection of NI-ADSCs significantly promoted the expression of neural marker (S100β) and demyelination markers (GFAP) and urodynamic recovery in SUI rats, while DAPT inhibited its neural repair effect. In summary, our study demonstrates that NI-ADSCs can promote nerve regeneration by promoting and maintaining the repair-related phenotype of SCs. The underlying mechanism may be related to the activation of the Notch signaling pathway.

Exosomes and non-coding RNAs: bridging the gap in Alzheimer's pathogenesis and therapeutics

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the elderly population and is the leading cause of dementia. Meanwhile, the vascular hypothesis suggests that vascular damage occurs in the early stages of the disease, leading to neurodegeneration and hindered waste clearance, which in turn triggers a series of events including the accumulation of amyloid plaques and Tau protein tangles. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have been found to be involved in the regulation of AD. Furthermore, lncRNAs and circRNAs can act as competitive endogenous RNAs to inhibit miRNAs, and their interactions can form a complex regulatory network. Exosomes, which are extracellular vesicles (EVs), are believed to be able to transfer ncRNAs between cells, thus playing a regulatory role in the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Exosomes are part of the intercellular carrier system; therefore, utilizing exosomes to deliver drugs to recipient cells might not activate the immune system, making it a potential strategy to treat central nervous system diseases. In this review, we review that AD is a multifactorial neurological disease and that ncRNAs can regulate its multiple pathogenic mechanisms to improve our understanding of the etiology of AD and to simultaneously regulate multiple pathogenic mechanisms of AD through the binding of ncRNAs to exosomes to improve the treatment of AD.

Identification of walnut-derived peptide WNP-8 as a potential therapeutic agent and SIRT2 as a biomarker for cognitive deficiency: A label-free LC-MS/MS proteomics study

Aberrant autophagic flux and epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. However, limited studies have been conducted on the relationship between the histone acetylation-particularly sirtuin 2 (SIRT2)-and autophagy in cognitive deficiency. We investigated the effects of a walnut-derived peptide (WNP-8) on SIRT2, synaptic plasticity, and autophagy and the involvement of SIRT2 in learning and memory. Using four-dimensional label-free quantitative proteomics, we analyzed hippocampal tissue from mice treated or not treated with WNP-8 and exposed to scopolamine and identified 71 significantly differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). A pathway enrichment analysis showed that the DEPs were mostly located in the cytoplasm and involved in the negative regulation of cell proliferation and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, which are associated with SIRT2. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses demonstrated that pretreatment with WNP-8 significantly modulated the expression of synaptic and autophagic proteins in scopolamine-treated cells in both in vivo and in vitro models (p < .05). Notably, WNP-8 significantly reversed the level and morphology of synaptic plasticity and autophagic flux in PC12 cells that overexpressed SIRT2 (p < .05). Together, our results provide evidence of a link between SIRT2, autophagy, and synaptic plasticity in neurons and novel insights into a potential predictive biomarker that could be used to prevent and delay Alzheimer's disease.

MST1, a novel therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease, regulates mitochondrial homeostasis by mediating mitochondrial DNA transcription and the PI3K-Akt-ROS pathway

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent irreversible neurodegenerative condition marked by gradual cognitive deterioration and neuronal loss. The mammalian Ste20-like kinase (MST1)-Hippo pathway is pivotal in regulating cell apoptosis, immune response, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress. However, the association between MST1 and mitochondrial function in AD remains unknown. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of MST1 on neuronal damage and cognitive impairment by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis in AD.

METHODS

In this study, 4- and 7-month-old 5xFAD mice were selected to simulate the early and middle stages of AD, respectively; age-matched wild-type mice served as controls for comparative analysis. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) was injected into the hippocampus of mice. Four weeks post-injection, cognitive function, neuronal damage indicators, and mitochondrial morphology, dynamics, oxidative stress, ATP, and apoptosis-related indicators were evaluated. Additionally, RNA-sequencing was performed on the hippocampal tissue of 5xFAD mice and MST1-knockdown 5xFAD mice. Subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed on differentially expressed genes to elucidate the potential mechanism of MST1. In vitro studies were performed to investigate the effects of MST1 on SH-SY5Y model cell viability and mitochondrial function and validate the potential underlying molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

MST1 overexpression accelerated neuronal degeneration and cognitive deficits in vivo while promoting oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. Similarly, in vitro, MST1 overexpression facilitated apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. MST1 knockdown and chemical inactivation reduced cognitive decline, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuronal degeneration. Mechanistically, MST1 regulated the transcription of mitochondrial genes, including MT-ND4L, MT-ATP6, and MT-CO2, by binding to PGC1α. Moreover, MST1 influenced cellular oxidative stress through the PI3K-Akt-ROS pathway, ultimately disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis and mediating cell damage.

CONCLUSIONS

Cumulatively, these results suggest that MST1 primarily regulates mitochondrial DNA transcription levels by interacting with PGC1α and modulates cellular oxidative stress through the PI3K-Akt-ROS pathway, disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis. This discovery can be exploited to potentially enhance mitochondrial energy metabolism pathways by targeting MST1, offering novel potential therapeutic targets for treating AD.

Proposed Mechanisms of Cell Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by mitochondria dysfunction, accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques, and hyperphosphorylated tau tangles in the brain leading to memory loss and cognitive deficits. There is currently no cure for this condition, but the potential of stem cells for the therapy of neurodegenerative pathologies is actively being researched. This review discusses preclinical and clinical studies that have used mouse models and human patients to investigate the use of novel types of stem cell treatment approaches. The findings provide valuable insights into the applications of stem cell-based therapies and include the use of neural, glial, mesenchymal, embryonic, and induced pluripotent stem cells. We cover current studies on stem cell replacement therapy where cells can functionally integrate into neural networks, replace damaged neurons, and strengthen impaired synaptic circuits in the brain. We address the paracrine action of stem cells acting via secreted factors to induce neuroregeneration and modify inflammatory responses. We focus on the neuroprotective functions of exosomes as well as their neurogenic and synaptogenic effects. We look into the shuttling of mitochondria through tunneling nanotubes that enables the transfer of healthy mitochondria by restoring the normal functioning of damaged cells, improving their metabolism, and reducing the level of apoptosis.

From Fundamentals to Innovation in Alzheimer's Disease: Molecular Findings and Revolutionary Therapies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a global health concern and the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. The prevalence of this neurodegenerative condition is projected to increase concomitantly with increased life expectancy, resulting in a significant economic burden. With very few FDA-approved disease-modifying drugs available for AD, there is an urgent need to develop new compounds capable of impeding the progression of the disease. Given the unclear etiopathogenesis of AD, this review emphasizes the underlying mechanisms of this condition. It explores not only well-studied aspects, such as the accumulation of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, but also novel areas, including glymphatic and lymphatic pathways, microbiota and the gut-brain axis, serotoninergic and autophagy alterations, vascular dysfunction, the metal hypothesis, the olfactory pathway, and oral health. Furthermore, the potential molecular targets arising from all these mechanisms have been reviewed, along with novel promising approaches such as nanoparticle-based therapy, neural stem cell transplantation, vaccines, and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing techniques. Taking into account the overlap of these various mechanisms, individual and combination therapies emerge as the future direction in the AD strategy.

The epigenetic modification of DNA methylation in neurological diseases

Methylation, a key epigenetic modification, is essential for regulating gene expression and protein function without altering the DNA sequence, contributing to various biological processes, including gene transcription, embryonic development, and cellular functions. Methylation encompasses DNA methylation, RNA methylation and histone modification. Recent research indicates that DNA methylation is vital for establishing and maintaining normal brain functions by modulating the high-order structure of DNA. Alterations in the patterns of DNA methylation can exert significant impacts on both gene expression and cellular function, playing a role in the development of numerous diseases, such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer. Our current understanding of the etiology of neurological diseases emphasizes a multifaceted process that includes neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory, and neurovascular events. Epigenetic modifications, especially DNA methylation, are fundamental in the control of gene expression and are critical in the onset and progression of neurological disorders. Furthermore, we comprehensively overview the role and mechanism of DNA methylation in in various biological processes and gene regulation in neurological diseases. Understanding the mechanisms and dynamics of DNA methylation in neural development can provide valuable insights into human biology and potentially lead to novel therapies for various neurological diseases.

Rehmanniae Radix Preparata ameliorates behavioral deficits and hippocampal neurodevelopmental abnormalities in ADHD rat model

Objectives

Abnormal hippocampal neurodevelopment, particularly in the dentate gyrus region, may be a key mechanism of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, we investigate the effect of the most commonly used Chinese herb for the treatment of ADHD, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (RRP), on behavior and hippocampal neurodevelopment in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods

Behavior tests, including Morris water maze (MWM) test, open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM) test were performed to assess the effect of RRP on hyperactive and impulsive behavior. Hippocampal neurodevelopment was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, Golgi staining and Nissl staining approaches. Regulatory proteins such as Trkb, CDK5, FGF2/FGFR1 were examined by Western blot analysis.

Results

The results showed that RRP could effectively control the impulsive and spontaneous behavior and improve the spatial learning and memory ability. RRP significantly reduced neuronal loss and increased the number of hippocampal stem cells, and promoted synaptic plasticity. In addition, FGF/FGFR signaling was upregulated after RRP treatment.

Conclusion

RRP can effectively reduce impulsive and spontaneous behavior and ameliorate hippocampal neurodevelopmental abnormalities in ADHD rat model.

Bergamot essential oil improves CUMS-induced depression-like behaviour in rats by protecting the plasticity of hippocampal neurons

Bergamot essential oil (BEO) is an extract of the bergamot fruit with significant neuroprotective effect. This study was to investigate the effects and the underlying mechanism of BEO in mitigating depression. GC-MS were used to identify its constituents. Antidepressive properties of BEO were evaluated by sucrose preference test (SPT), force swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT). Nissl staining was used to determine the number of Nissl bodies in hippocampus (HIPP) of rats. Changes in HIPP dendritic length and dendritic spine density were detected by Golgi-Cox staining. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) and synaptophysin (SYP) in the HIPP of rats. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the HIPP, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rats. Inhaled BEO significantly improved depressive behaviour in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats. BEO increased Nissl bodies, dendritic length and spine density, PSD-95 and SYP protein in the HIPP. Additionally, BEO upregulated serum 5-HT, serum and CSF IGF-1, while downregulating serum IL-1β. Collectively, inhaled BEO mitigates depression by protecting the plasticity of hippocampal neurons, hence, providing novel insights into treatment of depression.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles: A novel promising neuroprotective agent for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of neurons in the brain. However, there are no effective drugs for AD. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSCs-EVs), as a new mediator of intercellular communication, are associated with low immunogenicity, low risk of tumor formation, and good safety profile. Therefore, MSCs-EVs may be a safe and attractive cell-free nanotherapeutics, offering a new perspective for AD treatment. Although preclinical studies have demonstrated that MSCs-EVs have significant neuroprotective effects, the underlying mechanism is unclear. This study aimed to: outline the diagnostic and delivery roles of MSCs-EVs for AD treatment; summarize the optimal sources and delivery methods of MSCs-EVs; provide a comprehensive review on the neuroprotective mechanisms of MSCs-EVs; explore how to enhance the neuroprotective effects of MSCs-EVs; and discuss the limitations and potential of their translation to the clinic. Therefore, this study may provide a more precise theoretical reference and practical basis for clinical research of MSCs-EVs.

Top 100 most-cited articles on tau protein: a bibliometric analysis and evidence mapping

Background

Tau, a microtubule-associated protein extensively distributed within the central nervous system (CNS), exhibits close associations with various neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we aimed to conduct a qualitative and quantitative bibliometric study of the top 100 most-cited publications on tau protein and reveal the current research hotspots and future perspectives.

Methods

The relevant literature was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace (v6.2.R4) and VOSviewer (1.6.19) were adopted for bibliometric analysis with statistical and visual analysis.

Results

Citations per article ranged from 615 to 3,123, with a median number of 765.5 times. "Neuroscience" emerged as the most extensively researched subject in this field. The USA has emerged as the leading country, with a publication record (n = 65), total citations (n = 66,543), strong centrality (0.29), and extensive international collaborations. Harvard University (n = 11) and the University of California, San Francisco (n = 11) were the top two institutions in terms of publications. Neuron dominated with 13 articles in the 37 high-quality journals. M. Goedert from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology was the most productive (n = 9) and top co-cited (n = 179) author. The most frequently studied keywords were Alzheimer's disease (n = 38). Future research is anticipated to intensify its focus on the pathogenesis of various tau-related diseases, emphasizing the phosphorylation and structural alterations of tau protein, particularly in Alzheimer's disease.

Conclusion

The pathogenesis of various tau-related diseases, including the phosphorylation and structural alterations of the tau protein, will be the primary focus of future research, with particular emphasis on Alzheimer's disease as a central area of investigation.

Targeting autophagy in Alzheimer's disease: Animal models and mechanisms

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to cognitive impairment and memory loss. Emerging evidence suggests that autophagy plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD through the regulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau metabolism, and that autophagy dysfunction exacerbates amyloidosis and tau pathology. Therefore, targeting autophagy may be an effective approach for the treatment of AD. Animal models are considered useful tools for investigating the pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of diseases. This review aims to summarize the pathological alterations in autophagy in representative AD animal models and to present recent studies on newly discovered autophagy-stimulating interventions in animal AD models. Finally, the opportunities, difficulties, and future directions of autophagy targeting in AD therapy are discussed.