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Alzheimer's Disease: AD Pathogenesis

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ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE – A COMPLEX MULTIFACETED DISORDER In spite of significant improvements in our knowledge of the pathogenesis of AD over recent decades, the precise mechanisms leading to AD development remain elusive. Over the years, several different hypotheses have been postulated to address the pathological lesions observed in AD. Indeed, oxidative stress has been consistently observed as an underlying biochemical anomaly in several neurodegenerative diseases including AD. However, whether oxidative stress presents a causal role or is secondary to AD pathogenesis remains unclear.[39] Markers for oxidative stress have been reported during early development of the disease and in patients with mild cognitive impairment well before the onset …show more content…

Importantly synaptic dysfunction occurs early in AD, while actual loss of synapses does not appear until much later in the disease. The loss of synaptic density leads to inhibition of the excitatory transmission in both the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, leading to significant memory loss [54, 55]. Although Aβ deposition and tau phosphorylation may induce neuronal loss, the predominant mechanism accounting for-synaptic thinning is more likely progressive neuronal apoptosis. Several factors have been shown to stimulate apoptosis in various models of AD, including, impaired glucose metabolism, excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, factors, such as tumor suppressor protein p53, forkhead box protein (FOXO), and ROS, can mediate apoptosis in AD [56, 57]. Thus, new treatment strategies aimed at developing molecules that downregulate apoptosis are currently a primary …show more content…

In lower organisms such as bacteria or fungi, resveratrol acts as a phytoalexin with potent antimicrobial activity against these pathogens [62]. One epidemiological study reported a positive association between low to moderate red wine consumption and a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease. This phenomenon is known as the “French Paradox” [63, 64]. Resveratrol is naturally found in both cis- and trans- isomers (Figure 1). The trans- isomer is the most common and highly active form. Resveratrol is highly vulnerable to isomerisation due to UV. With at least 80% of trans-resveratrol being transformed to cis-resveratrol after exposure to just 1 hour of ordinary light

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