Ghrelin in Alzheimer's disease: pathologic roles and therapeutic implications.

Ghrelin in Alzheimer's disease: pathologic roles and therapeutic implications. Ageing Res Rev. 2019 Aug 18;:100945 Authors: Jeon SG, Hong SB, Nam Y, Tae J, Yoo A, Ji Song E, Kim KI, Lee D, Park J, Lee SM, Kim JI, Moon M Abstract Ghrelin, which has many important physiological roles, such as stimulating food intake, regulating energy homeostasis, and releasing insulin, has recently been studied for its roles in a diverse range of neurological disorders. Despite the several functions of ghrelin in the central nervous system, whether it works as a therapeutic agent for neurological dysfunction has been unclear. Altered levels and various roles of ghrelin have been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins resulting in synaptic loss and cognitive decline. Interestingly, treatment with ghrelin or with the agonist of ghrelin receptor showed attenuation in several cases of AD-related pathology. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic implications of ghrelin in the pathogenesis of AD. In the present review, we summarized the roles of ghrelin in AD pathogenesis, amyloid beta (Aβ) homeostasis, tau hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial deficit, synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Additionally, we addressed the roles of ghrelin in the behavioral/psychological symptoms and metabolic syndrome accompanying AD. The findings from this review suggest tha...
Source: Ageing Research Reviews - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Ageing Res Rev Source Type: research