Cited by 35Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNutritional Studies and Diet

The Role of Genetic, Environmental, and Dietary Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Narrative Review

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Mertaş, Beyza, Boşgelmez, İ. İpek·2025·International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common and severe forms of dementia and neurodegenerative disease. As life expectancy increases in line with developments in medicine, the elderly population is projected to increase in the next few decades; therefore, an increase in the prevalence of some diseases, such as AD, is also expected. As a result, until a radical treatment becomes available, AD is expected to be more frequently recorded as one of the top causes of death worldwide. Given the current lack of a cure for AD, and the only treatments available being ones that alleviate major symptoms, the identification of contributing factors that influence disease incidence is crucial. In this context, genetic and/or epigenetic factors, mainly environmental, disease-related, dietary, or combinations/interactions of these factors, are assessed. In this review, we conducted a literature search focusing on environmental factors such as air pollution, toxic elements, pesticides, and infectious agents, as well as dietary factors including various diets, vitamin D deficiency, social factors (e.g., tobacco and alcohol use), and variables that are affected by both environmental and genetic factors, such as dietary behavior and gut microbiota. We also evaluated studies on the beneficial effects of antibiotics and diets, such as the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) and Mediterranean diets.

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  • Differences in age at onset, rate of cognitive decline, and treatment responsiveness result from a combination of intrinsic factors such as genetic background, sex, and immune system variability, as well as extrinsic influences including dietary patterns, comorbid conditions, and environmental exposures.

    “These differences result from a combination of intrinsic factors, such as genetic background, sex, and immune system variability, as well as extrinsic influences including dietary patterns, comorbid conditions, and environmental exposures418,419.”

    From Artificial intelligence-driven multi-omics approaches in Alzheimer's disease: Progress, challenges, and future directions (2025) · cites this paper as [419]

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [7]Kiani L. Hodson R. Nature Milestones The History of Alzheimer’s Disease (1906–2024) Available online: https://www.nature.com/immersive/alzheimers-disease-history/index.html (accessed on 9 December 2024)
  2. [109]World Health Organization WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines: Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland 2021 34662007
  3. [221]Press D. Buss S.S. Treatment of Alzheimer disease UpToDate Connor R.F. Wolters Kluwer Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands 2024 Available online: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-alzheimer-disease?csi=34c234ee-1379-44b0-8d8f-998329f9c1a3&source=contentShare (accessed on 18 December 2024)

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Authors
Mertaş, B., & Boşgelmez, İ. İ.
Affiliations
  • Düzce Üniversitesi (TR)
  • Erciyes University (TR)
Corresponding author
Boşgelmez, İ. İpek
Venue
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2025-01-30
Volume
26
Issue
3
Pages
1222
ISSN
1422-0067 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4406986281
Cited by
35
References
212
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 14
FWCI
6.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Erciyes University - AVESIS (submittedVersion)
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 › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, genetic risk factors, epigenetics, environmental risk factors, dietary factors, air pollution, toxic elements, pesticides, infectious agents, vitamin D deficiency, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, gut microbiota, dietary behavior, antibiotics, MIND diet, Mediterranean diet, DASH diet, dementia
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Diet, Environment, Environmental Exposure, Humans, Risk Factors, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Diet, Mediterranean, Epigenesis, Genetic, Gene-Environment Interaction

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