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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Nov 3.
Published in final edited form as: Cell Metab. 2015 Sep 10;22(5):761–776. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.08.016

Figure 3. The hypothalamus: target and culprit of AD pathology?

Figure 3

Proposed mechanism depicting how abnormal accumulation of amyloid-beta and tau in the hypothalamus can result in decreased hypothalamic signaling and insensitivity to the normal hormonal feedback signals. Reduced hypothalamic signaling in turn leads to alterations in critical physiological functions including neuroendocrine axis, systemic metabolism, and sleep/circadian rhythm, which can potentially contribute to worsening amyloid and tau pathology and cognitive/mental decline.