Glial cell nutrient sensing: Mechanisms of nutrients regulating Alzheimer’s pathogenesis and precision intervention

Title : Glial cell nutrient sensing: Mechanisms of nutrients regulating Alzheimer’s pathogenesis and precision intervention

Abstract:

Modern nutrition plays a pivotal role in clinical care. While existing studies have touched upon neuro-nutrition in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a comprehensive analysis of how the six essential nutrient categories modulate AD remains limited. Given the direct involvement of glial cells in AD pathology, there is a need to synthesize a coherent “essential nutrients–glial cells–AD” framework. This review systematically outlines the modulatory functions of glial cells (astrocytes, microglia, and their networks) in AD and investigates the pathways through which essential nutrients exert effects on AD via these cells. Key nutrients—including vitamins, minerals, proteins and amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates—are shown to regulate critical glia-driven processes such as energy metabolism remodeling, neuroinflammation, and phagocytic clearance. Additionally, the review highlights nutrient imbalances commonly observed in AD patients and proposes tailored nutritional interventions aimed at prevention and symptom management. Promising dietary patterns for AD mitigation are also evaluated. By elucidating the molecular interplay between essential nutrients and glial cells, this work contributes to the advancement of precision nutrition approaches for AD.

Biography:

Qingmin Yan is a Master’s candidate at the School of Public Health, Ningbo University. Under the supervision of Dr. Guoqing Wu, her research focuses on the role of nutritional factors in modulating neurodegenerative diseases, with a current emphasis on the relationship between methionine restriction and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.

She is a member of the research team led by Dr. Guoqing Wu at the School of Public Health, Ningbo University. The team specializes in molecular nutrition and mechanisms of chronic disease prevention, placing particular focus on how nutrients and functional nutritional components influence chronic diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease. Actively supported by national and provincial research funding, the team has published 15 papers in high-quality SCI-indexed journals such as CRIT REV FOOD SCI, JFAC, FOOD BIOSCI, Foods. Employing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates molecular nutrition with experimental studies in animal models, the team is dedicated to advancing scientific understanding and developing practical dietary interventions for chronic disease management and health promotion.