Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 2 School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
Curr Neuropharmacol, 2022;20(8):1554-1563.
PMID: 34951390 DOI: 10.2174/1570159X20666211223124715

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is pathologically characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. In a neurodegenerative brain, glucose metabolism is also impaired and considered as one of the key features in AD patients. The impairment causes a reduction in glucose transporters and the uptake of glucose as well as alterations in the specific activity of glycolytic enzymes. Recently, it has been reported that α-amylase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, is present in the human brain. The enzyme is known to be associated with various diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and hyperamylasaemia. With this information at hand, we hypothesize that α-amylase could have a vital role in the demented brains of AD patients. This review aims to shed insight into the possible link between the expression levels of α-amylase and AD. Lastly, we also cover the diverse role of amylase inhibitors and how they could serve as a therapeutic agent to manage or stop AD progression.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.