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Metabolic Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease: A Link to a Vascular Hypothesis?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Haralampos J. Milionis ,
Matilda Florentin  and
Sotirios Giannopoulos
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Abstract

Current evidence from epidemiological, neuroimaging, pathological, pharmacotherapeutic, and clinical studies indicate an association of Alzheimer's disease with risk factors of vascular atherosclerotic disease either in isolation or in aggregate. “Metabolic syndrome” (MetS) is the name for a clustering of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes that are of metabolic origin. These include central obesity, elevated plasma glucose, high blood pressure, atherogenic dyslipidemia, a prothrombotic state, and a proinflammatory state. In this article, we provide an overview of the relevant literature with regard to the relationship of Alzheimer's disease with MetS. Accumulating evidence suggests a “vascular hypothesis” to be related to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. In the light of this evidence, clinician may consider lifestyle interventions toward an early and effective cardiovascular risk-factor management to reduce the cardiometabolic and the cognitive decline risk, while further research of other preventive strategies may be warranted.

Type
Review Articles
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 13 , Issue 7 , July 2008 , pp. 606 - 613
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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