Melatonin regulates Aβ production/clearance balance and Aβ neurotoxicity: A potential therapeutic molecule for Alzheimer's disease.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore melatonin's potential as a therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease by examining its effects on Aβ production, clearance, neurotoxicity, and circadian disruption.
Results Summary
Melatonin demonstrated neuroprotective effects by inhibiting Aβ production, promoting Aβ clearance, and ameliorating Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Clinical trials indicated improvements in sleep quality and cognitive function in AD patients.
Population
Alzheimer's disease patients
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | decrease | Alzheimer's disease progression | - | - | shows a potent neuroprotective effect | #1 |
melatonin | decrease | progression of AD | - | - | can prevent or slow down | #2 |
melatonin | neutral | regulatory network of secretase expression | - | - | modulates | #3 |
melatonin | neutral | function of secretase | - | - | affects | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | amyloidogenic APP processing | - | - | inhibiting | #5 |
melatonin | decrease | Aβ production | - | - | inhibiting | #6 |
melatonin | decrease | Aβ-induced neurotoxicity | - | - | ameliorates | #7 |
melatonin | increase | Aβ clearance | - | - | probably promotes | #8 |
melatonin treatment | increase | sleep quality | AD patients | - | has a promising effect on improving | #9 |
melatonin treatment | increase | cognitive function | AD patients | - | has a promising effect on improving | #10 |
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease with multiple predisposing factors and complicated pathogenesis. Aβ peptide is one of the most important pathogenic factors in the etiology of AD. Accumulating evidence indicates that the imbalance of Aβ production and Aβ clearance in the brain of AD patients leads to Aβ deposition and neurotoxic Aβ oligomer formation. Melatonin shows a potent neuroprotective effect and can prevent or slow down the progression of AD, supporting the view that melatonin is a potential therapeutic molecule for AD. Melatonin modulates the regulatory network of secretase expression and affects the function of secretase, thereby inhibiting amyloidogenic APP processing and Aβ production. Additionally, melatonin ameliorates Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and probably promotes Aβ clearance through glymphatic-lymphatic drainage, BBB transportation and degradation pathways. In this review, we summarize and discuss the role of melatonin against Aβ-dependent AD pathogenesis. We explore the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms of melatonin on Aβ production and assembly, Aβ clearance, Aβ neurotoxicity and circadian cycle disruption. We summarize multiple clinical trials of melatonin treatment in AD patients, showing that melatonin has a promising effect on improving sleep quality and cognitive function. This review aims to stimulate further research on melatonin as a potential therapeutic agent for AD.