Dementia has emerged as one of the main threats to human health in the modern civilization. Increased aging of world population and unhealthy lifestyle habits have been identified as critical factors able to facilitat...Dementia has emerged as one of the main threats to human health in the modern civilization. Increased aging of world population and unhealthy lifestyle habits have been identified as critical factors able to facilitate dementia establishment. In this context, according to the Alzheimer’s Research International, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) constitutes the primary cause of dementia worldwide and its numbers are expected to grow during the following years. Clinically, AD is characterized by the progressive decline in the cognitive performance as well as by an altered social behavior. Initially affecting the short-term memory, the long-term memory becomes compromised as the pathology progresses.展开更多
Wnts comprise a large family of proteins that have shown to be part of a signaling cascade that regulates several aspects of develop- ment including organogenesis, mid brain development as welt as stem cell proliferat...Wnts comprise a large family of proteins that have shown to be part of a signaling cascade that regulates several aspects of develop- ment including organogenesis, mid brain development as welt as stem cell proliferation. Wnt signaling pathway plays different roles in the development of neuronal circuits and also in the adult brain, where it regulates synaptic transmission and plasticity. It has been also implicated in various diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, reflecting its relevance in fundamental biological pro- cesses. This review summarizes the progress about Wnts function in mature nervous system with a focus on Alzheimer's disease (AD). We discuss the prospects of modulating canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling as a strategy for neuroprotection. This will include the potential of Wnts to: (i) act as potent regulators of hippocampai synapses and impact in learning and memory; (ii) regulate adult neurogenesis; and finally (iii) control AD pathogenesis.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the Basal Center of Excellence in Aging and Regeneration AFB 170005FONDECYT(1160724,to NCI)
文摘Dementia has emerged as one of the main threats to human health in the modern civilization. Increased aging of world population and unhealthy lifestyle habits have been identified as critical factors able to facilitate dementia establishment. In this context, according to the Alzheimer’s Research International, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) constitutes the primary cause of dementia worldwide and its numbers are expected to grow during the following years. Clinically, AD is characterized by the progressive decline in the cognitive performance as well as by an altered social behavior. Initially affecting the short-term memory, the long-term memory becomes compromised as the pathology progresses.
文摘Wnts comprise a large family of proteins that have shown to be part of a signaling cascade that regulates several aspects of develop- ment including organogenesis, mid brain development as welt as stem cell proliferation. Wnt signaling pathway plays different roles in the development of neuronal circuits and also in the adult brain, where it regulates synaptic transmission and plasticity. It has been also implicated in various diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, reflecting its relevance in fundamental biological pro- cesses. This review summarizes the progress about Wnts function in mature nervous system with a focus on Alzheimer's disease (AD). We discuss the prospects of modulating canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling as a strategy for neuroprotection. This will include the potential of Wnts to: (i) act as potent regulators of hippocampai synapses and impact in learning and memory; (ii) regulate adult neurogenesis; and finally (iii) control AD pathogenesis.