Skip to main content

MINI REVIEW article

Front. Cell. Neurosci.
Sec. Cellular Neuropathology
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1520253
This article is part of the Research Topic Emerging Mechanisms in Neuroinflammation: Potential Therapeutic Targets for Neurodegenerative Diseases View all 5 articles

Role of insulin-like growth factor-2 in Alzheimer's disease induced memory impairment and underlying mechanisms

Provisionally accepted
Junpeng Ma Junpeng Ma 1*Ruiqi Chen Ruiqi Chen 1Xing Lu Xing Lu 2Anqi Xiao Anqi Xiao 1
  • 1 West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
  • 2 West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent type of dementia. Treatments for AD do not reverse the loss of brain function; rather, they decrease the rate of cognitive deterioration. Current treatments are ineffective in part because they do not address neurotrophic mechanisms, which are believed to be critical for functional recovery.Given that structural losses are assumed to be the root cause of cognitive impairment in AD, strengthening neurotrophic pathways may be a useful preventative therapeutic approach. Insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF2), which is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), has emerged as a crucial mechanism of synaptic plasticity and learning and memory, and many studies have indicated that this neurotrophic peptide is a viable candidate for treating and preventing AD-induced cognitive decline. An increase in IGF2 levels improves memory in healthy animals and alleviates several symptoms associated with neurodegenerative disorders. These effects are primarily caused by the IGF2 receptor, which is widely expressed in neurons and controls protein trafficking, synthesis, and degradation. However, the use of IGF2 as a potential target for the development of novel pharmaceuticals to treat AD-induced memory impairment needs further investigation. We compiled recent studies on the role of IGF2 in ADassociated memory issues and summarized the current knowledge regarding IGF2 expression and function in the brain, specifically in AD-induced memory impairment.

    Keywords: IGF2, Memory, AD, Hippocampus, Treatment

    Received: 31 Oct 2024; Accepted: 13 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ma, Chen, Lu and Xiao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Junpeng Ma, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.