Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) collectively affect a significant portion of the aging population worldwide. The pathological progression of AD involves not only the classical hallmarks of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque buildup and neurofibrillary tangle development but also the effects of vasculature and chronic inflammatory processes. Recently, platelets have emerged as central players in systemic and neuroinflammation. Studies have shown that patients with altered platelet receptor expression exhibit accelerated cognitive decline independent of traditional risk factors. Additionally, platelets from AD patients exhibit heightened unstimulated activation compared to control groups. Platelet granules contain crucial AD-related proteins like tau and amyloid precursor protein (APP). Dysregulation of platelet exocytosis contributes to disease phenotypes characterized by increased bleeding, stroke, and cognitive decline risk. Recent studies have indicated that these effects are not associated with the quantity of platelets present in circulation. This underscores the hypothesis that disruptions in platelet-mediated inflammation and healing processes may play a crucial role in the development of ADRD. A thorough look at platelets, encompassing their receptors, secreted molecules, and diverse roles in inflammatory interactions with other cells in the circulatory system in AD and ADRD, holds promising prospects for disease management and intervention. This review discusses the pivotal roles of platelets in ADRD.

中文翻译：

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一种免疫细胞将它们结合在一起：血小板对神经退行性疾病的贡献


阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 和相关痴呆症 (ADRD) 共同影响着全球很大一部分老龄化人口。 AD 的病理进展不仅涉及β淀粉样蛋白（Aβ）斑块积聚和神经原纤维缠结发展的经典特征，还涉及脉管系统和慢性炎症过程的影响。最近，血小板已成为全身炎症和神经炎症的核心参与者。研究表明，血小板受体表达改变的患者表现出认知能力加速下降，与传统危险因素无关。此外，与对照组相比，AD 患者的血小板表现出更高的未刺激激活。血小板颗粒含有重要的 AD 相关蛋白，如 tau 蛋白和淀粉样前体蛋白 (APP)。血小板胞吐作用失调会导致以出血、中风和认知能力下降风险增加为特征的疾病表型。最近的研究表明，这些影响与循环中血小板的数量无关。这强调了这样一个假设：血小板介导的炎症和愈合过程的破坏可能在 ADRD 的发展中发挥至关重要的作用。对血小板的全面研究，包括其受体、分泌分子以及在 AD 和 ADRD 中与循环系统其他细胞炎症相互作用中的不同作用，为疾病管理和干预带来了广阔的前景。这篇综述讨论了血小板在 ADRD 中的关键作用。