Alzheimer's disease in humans and other animals : a consequence of postreproductive life span and longevity rather than aging
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease and diabetes mellitus are linked by epidemiology, genetics, and molecular pathogenesis. They may also be linked by the remarkable observation that insulin signaling sets the limits on longevity. In worms, flies, and mice, disrupting insulin signaling increases life span leading to speculation that caloric restriction might extend life span in man. It is our contention that man is already a long-lived organism, specifically with a remarkably high postfertility life span, and that it is this that results in the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. Methods We review evidence for this hypothesis that carries specific predictions including that other animals with exceptionally long postreproductive life span will have increased risk of both diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Results and Conclusions We present novel evidence that Dolphin, like man, an animal with exceptional longevity, might be one of the very few natural models of Alzheimer's disease.
Citation
Gunn-Moore , D , Kaidanovich-Beilin , O , Gallego Iradi , M C , Gunn-Moore , F & Lovestone , S 2018 , ' Alzheimer's disease in humans and other animals : a consequence of postreproductive life span and longevity rather than aging ' , Alzheimer's and Dementia , vol. 14 , no. 2 , pp. 195-204 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2017.08.014
Publication
Alzheimer's and Dementia
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1552-5260Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2017, The Alzheimer's Association. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2017.08.014
Description
Research in the author’s laboratories is supported by the NIHR, MRC, ARUK, Alzheimer’s Society, Wellcome Trust and the EUCollections
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