Melatonin (2013, '17, '18, '19) & Alzheimer's

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and its production runs parallel to AD progression. Quality of sleep is dependent upon melatonin, and it appears to be a safe and effective treatment for AD patients with sleep dysfunction.¹ Melatonin stimulates non amyloidogenic processing and inhibits beta amyloid precursor protein processing which culminates in amyloid aggregates - a neuroprotective function in AD pathology.² It decreases AD-like tau hyperphosphorylation, protects the cholinergic system and is anti-inflammatory. As such, it may be a useful agent in preventing and treating AD.³ Weak melatonin signaling (melatonin receptor type 1A gene) appears to contribute to the cascade of AD pathology.⁴

Not only does magnesium have a crucial role in protecting circadian rhythm, and improving signaling pathways, but it appears to limit beta amyloid accumulation, amyloid fibrillation, nerve cell death as AD progresses.⁵

Research

1. Wang YY, Zheng W, Ng CH, Ungvari GS, Wei W, et al. (2017). Meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of melatonin in Alzheimer's disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. Jan;32(1):50-57.
2. Shukla M, Govitrapong P, Boontem P, Reiter RJ, Satayavivad J. (2017). Mechanisms of Melatonin in Alleviating Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017;15(7):1010-1031.
3. Lin L, Huang QX, Yang SS, Chu J, Wang JZ, et al. (2013). Melatonin in Alzheimer's disease. Int J Mol Sci. Jul 12;14(7):14575-93.
4. Sulkaya S, Muggalla P, Sulkava R, Ollila HM, Peuralinna T, et al. (2018). Melatonin receptor type 1A gene linked to Alzheimer's disease in old age. Sleep. Jul;41(7):zsy103.
5. Hossain MD, Uddin MD, Uddin GMS, Sumsuzzman DM, Islam MD, et al. (2019). Melatonin in Alzheimer's Disease: A Latent Endogenous Regulator of Neurogenesis to Mitigate Alzheimer's Neuropathology. Mol Neurobiol. Dec;56(12):8255-8276.