AUTHOR=de Bem Andreza Fabro , Krolow Rachel , Farias Hémelin Resende , de Rezende Victória Linden , Gelain Daniel Pens , Moreira José Cláudio Fonseca , Duarte João Miguel das Neves , de Oliveira Jade TITLE=Animal Models of Metabolic Disorders in the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience VOLUME=14 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2020.604150 DOI=10.3389/fnins.2020.604150 ISSN=1662-453X ABSTRACT=

The incidence of metabolic disorders, as well as of neurodegenerative diseases—mainly the sporadic forms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease—are increasing worldwide. Notably, obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia have been indicated as early risk factors for sporadic forms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. These conditions share a range of molecular and cellular features, including protein aggregation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction, all of which contribute to neuronal death and cognitive impairment. Rodent models of obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia exhibit all the hallmarks of these degenerative diseases, and represent an interesting approach to the study of the phenotypic features and pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders. We review the main pathological aspects of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as summarized in rodent models of obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia.