Regulation of mitochondrial dysfunction by estrogens and estrogen
receptors in Alzheimer’s disease: A focused review
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily
manifests itself by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline, thus
significantly affecting memory functions and quality of life. The
canonical amyloid-β hypothesis, while significant, has faced setbacks,
highlighting the need to adopt a broader perspective considering the
intricate interplay of diverse pathological pathways for effective AD
treatments. Sex differences in AD offer valuable insights into a better
understanding of its pathophysiology. Fluctuation of the levels of
ovarian sex hormones during perimenopause is associated with changes in
glucose metabolism, as a possible window of opportunity to further
understand the roles of sex steroid hormones and their associated
receptors in the pathophysiology of AD. We review these dimensions,
emphasizing the potential of estrogen receptors (ER) to reveal
mitochondrial functions in the search for further research and
therapeutic strategies for AD pharmacotherapy. Understanding and
addressing the intricate interactions of mitochondrial dysfunction and
estrogen receptors potentially pave the way for more effective
approaches to AD therapy.