Cited by 346Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsAdvanced MRI Techniques and Applications

Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Metabolic Alterations in the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies

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Song, Tao, Song, Xiaopeng, Zhu, Chenyawen, Patrick, Regan, Skurla, Miranda, Santangelo, Isabella, Green, Morgan, Harper, David +4 more·2021·Ageing Research Reviews

Abstract

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that metabolic changes in the brain associated with neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction play an important role in the pathophysiology of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neural signatures associated with these metabolic alterations and underlying molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Accordingly, we reviewed the literature on in vivo human brain 1 H and 31 P-MRS studies and use meta-analyses to identify patterns of brain metabolic alterations in MCI and AD. 40 and 39 studies on MCI and AD, respectively, were classified according to brain regions. Our results indicate decreased N-acetyl aspartate and creatine but increased myo-inositol levels in both MCI and AD, decreased glutathione level in MCI as well as disrupted energy metabolism in AD. In addition, the hippocampus shows the strongest alterations in most of these metabolites. This meta-analysis also illustrates progressive metabolite alterations from MCI to AD. Taken together, it suggests that 1) neuroinflammation and oxidative stress may occur in the early stages of AD, and likely precede neuron loss in its progression; 2) the hippocampus is a sensitive region of interest for early diagnosis and monitoring the response of interventions; 3) targeting bioenergetics associated with neuroinflammation/oxidative stress is a promising approach for treating AD.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101503

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  • Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation exacerbate metabolic impairment by further disrupting glucose transport and mitochondrial function.

    “On the other hand, Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation exacerbate metabolic impairment by further disrupting glucose transport and mitochondrial function [75].”

    From Toward a Unified Framework in Molecular Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease: Revisiting the Pathophysiological Hypotheses (2026) · cites this paper as [75]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) links Aβ to microglial activation and describes neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic alterations as intertwined in Alzheimer’s disease. It does not say that Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation worsen metabolism by disrupting glucose transport and mitochondrial function; it also notes that mitochondrial dysfunction may precede amyloid deposition. Searches for glucose transport and tau hyperphosphorylation did not establish those specific mechanisms. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • These mitochondrial changes reduce ATP production and amplify ROS generation, establishing a vicious cycle of bioenergetic failure and oxidative damage.

    “These changes not only reduce ATP production but also amplify ROS generation, establishing a vicious cycle of bioenergetic failure and oxidative damage [75].”

    From Toward a Unified Framework in Molecular Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease: Revisiting the Pathophysiological Hypotheses (2026) · cites this paper as [75]

    The Introduction links mitochondrial abnormalities in Alzheimer’s disease to cellular energy deficits and excess ROS, and the Discussion says mitochondrial dysfunction could cause ROS overproduction and oxidative stress. But the paper does not establish reduced ATP production or a self-reinforcing cycle of bioenergetic failure and oxidative damage; its Results report no significant difference in ATP levels between AD patients and healthy controls. The Discussion describes these processes as intertwined while cautioning that their causal order is unclear. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Aβ exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction by impairing respiratory enzyme activity, disrupting mitochondrial dynamics, and interacting directly with mitochondrial proteins such as Aβ-binding alcohol dehydrogenase.

    “In AD, Aβ exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction by impairing respiratory enzyme activity, disrupting mitochondrial dynamics, and interacting directly with mitochondrial proteins, such as Aβ-binding alcohol dehydrogenase.”

    From Toward a Unified Framework in Molecular Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease: Revisiting the Pathophysiological Hypotheses (2026) · cites this paper as [75]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) reports reduced mitochondrial enzyme activity and altered mitochondrial structure in AD, supporting the background link to mitochondrial dysfunction. It does not say that Aβ causes those changes, disrupts mitochondrial dynamics, or binds Aβ-binding alcohol dehydrogenase. The Discussion (page unavailable) instead notes that mitochondrial dysfunction may precede amyloid plaques. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and metabolic alterations may be critical in initiation of neurodegeneration in AD.

    “increased levels of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and metabolic alterations, which are prominent features of aging, may all be critical in the initiation of the neurodegeneration occurring in AD (Song et al., 2021)”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Cochrane Collaboration, 2014. Review Manager (RevMan) (Version 5.3). Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre.

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Authors
Song, T., Song, X., Zhu, C., Patrick, R., Skurla, M., Santangelo, I., Green, M., Harper, D., Ren, B., Forester, B. P., Öngür, D., & Du, F.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • McLean Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Du, Fei
Venue
Ageing Research Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-12
Volume
72
Pages
101503
ISSN
1568-1637 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3209041513
Cited by
346
References
176
Citations by year
2026: 85 · 2025: 96 · 2024: 86 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 25
FWCI
7.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Ageing Research Reviews (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (K24MH104449, P50MH115846, R01AG066670, R01MH095809, R01MH114982)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, brain energy metabolism, N-acetylaspartate, creatine, myo-inositol, glutathione, hippocampus, 31P NMR, 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy, early diagnosis, bioenergetics
MeSH terms
Neuroinflammatory Diseases, Alzheimer Disease, Humans, Mitochondria, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Oxidative Stress, Disease Progression, Cognitive Dysfunction

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