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Dementia and Depression: Biological Connections with Amyloid β Protein
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  • Zuleide Ignacio,
  • Helamã Moraes dos Santos,
  • Amanda Gollo Bertollo,
  • Maiqueli Eduarda Dama Mingoti,
  • Roberta Eduarda Grolli,
  • Kelli Kreuz
Zuleide Ignacio
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul

Corresponding Author:zuleideignacio@gmail.com

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Helamã Moraes dos Santos
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul
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Amanda Gollo Bertollo
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul
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Maiqueli Eduarda Dama Mingoti
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul
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Roberta Eduarda Grolli
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
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Kelli Kreuz
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul
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Abstract

Dementia is an umbrella term for a broad group of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. It is estimated that dementia affects 50 million people worldwide and that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is responsible for up to 75% of cases. Small extracellular senile plaques composed of filamentous aggregates of amyloid β (Aβ) protein tend to bind to neuronal receptors, affecting cholinergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic neurotransmission, leading to neuroinflammation, among other pathophysiologic processes, and subsequent neuronal death, followed by dementia. The amyloid cascade hypothesis points to a pathological process in the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), resulting in pathological Aβ. There is a close relationship between the pathologies that lead to dementia and depression. It is estimated that depression is prevalent in up to 90% of individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, with varying severity, and in 20 to 30% of cases of Alzheimer’s disease. The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis is the great intermediary between the pathophysiological mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases and depression. This review discusses the role of Aβ protein in the pathophysiological mechanisms of dementia and depression, considering the HPA axis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, signaling pathways, and neurotransmission.
16 Oct 2023Submitted to Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
16 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
16 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
16 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
12 Feb 20242nd Revision Received
13 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
13 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
13 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Accept