Summary
Background. Alzheimer’s disease and neoplastic diseases are two challenges posing significant difficulties for the healthcare system. Although advances in medicine are uncovering more information about the causes, mechanisms, and treatments of these diseases, many unanswered questions about these conditions and their relationship remain.
Objective. The inverse association between Alzheimer’s disease and malignant tumors suggests that a predisposition to one disease might protect against the other. This theory can only be confirmed by understanding the biological mechanisms of both diseases and examining the connections between them.
Literature review. This article describes common risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, such as old age, obesity, and inflammatory processes, explaining why both diseases can share the same risk factors but are considered opposite in pathophysiological processes. It also explores the biological mechanisms and signaling pathways related to p53, Wnt, Pin1, and the role of microRNAs in both tumor progression and Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology. It is important is that the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells also cause apoptosis in brain cells affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, it is suggested that patients prone to cancer may have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Conclusions. Although this association is actively explored in medical literature, there is still a lack of scientific studies that could find more connections between specific types of cancer and specific neurodegenerative changes. Furthermore, having more knowledge about the causes of these diseases could lead to more treatment or prevention methods for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
