# Ferroptosis and Alzheimer’s disease: a new insight into neurodegeneration

**Authors:** Youfang Quan, Hongwei Liu, Minheng Zhang, Meng Li, Bo He, Ke Wang, Xuewen Huang, Shengyang Zhou, Zhongyu Han, Haixia Fan

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1701767 · Frontiers in Immunology · 2026-02-06

## TL;DR

This paper explores how ferroptosis, a type of cell death, may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and offers new insights into its causes and potential treatments.

## Contribution

The paper provides a new perspective on Alzheimer’s disease by linking ferroptosis to its pathogenesis and reviewing therapeutic strategies targeting it.

## Key findings

- Ferroptosis may play a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Molecular signatures of ferroptosis are connected to amyloid cascade mechanisms in AD.
- Therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis show promise for Alzheimer’s treatment.

## Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder, poses a significant threat to the health of the aging population. The pathological hallmarks of AD include the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) within the brain. While substantial neuronal loss has been consistently observed in AD, the precise mechanisms underlying neuronal elimination remain incompletely understood. As a distinct form of regulated cell death, the contribution of ferroptosis to AD pathogenesis and progression warrants further investigation. This review critically examines the amyloid cascade hypothesis within the context of AD, with particular emphasis on the molecular signatures of ferroptosis and their contributions to canonical AD pathogenesis and cognitive decline. We aim to provide an updated perspective on AD etiopathogenesis. Furthermore, we synthesize current therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis inhibition in AD, highlighting recent advances that hold significant implications for guiding present and future translational efforts.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Alzheimer’s disease (MONDO:0004975)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** KEAP1 (kelch like ECH associated protein 1) [NCBI Gene 9817] {aka INrf2, KLHL19}, MME (membrane metalloendopeptidase) [NCBI Gene 4311] {aka CALLA, CD10, CMT2T, NEP, SCA43, SFE}, PRG3 (proteoglycan 3, pro eosinophil major basic protein 2) [NCBI Gene 10394] {aka MBP2, MBPH}, RIPK1 (receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 8737] {aka AIEFL, IMD57, RIP, RIP-1, RIP1}, MAFG (MAF bZIP transcription factor G) [NCBI Gene 4097] {aka hMAF}, CDK5R1 (cyclin dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 8851] {aka CDK5P35, CDK5R, NCK5A, p23, p25, p35}, SLC3A2 (solute carrier family 3 member 2) [NCBI Gene 6520] {aka 4F2, 4F2HC, 4T2HC, CD98, CD98HC, MDU1}, TFRC (transferrin receptor) [NCBI Gene 7037] {aka CD71, IMD46, T9, TFR, TFR1, TR}, NEIL1 (nei like DNA glycosylase 1) [NCBI Gene 79661] {aka FPG1, NEI1, hFPG1}, TF (transferrin) [NCBI Gene 7018] {aka HEL-S-71p, PRO1557, PRO2086, TFQTL1}, NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) [NCBI Gene 114548] {aka AGTAVPRL, AII, AVP, C1orf7, CIAS1, CLR1.1}, PPARA (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha) [NCBI Gene 5465] {aka NR1C1, PPAR, PPAR-alpha, PPARalpha, hPPAR}, F3 (coagulation factor III, tissue factor) [NCBI Gene 2152] {aka CD142, TF, TFA}, NEIL2 (nei like DNA glycosylase 2) [NCBI Gene 252969] {aka NEH2, NEI2}, BCL2 (BCL2 apoptosis regulator) [NCBI Gene 596] {aka Bcl-2, PPP1R50}, CREBBP (CREB binding lysine acetyltransferase) [NCBI Gene 1387] {aka CBP, KAT3A, MKHK1, RSTS, RSTS1}, CAT (catalase) [NCBI Gene 847], DPP4 (dipeptidyl peptidase 4) [NCBI Gene 1803] {aka ADABP, ADCP2, CD26, DPPIV, TP103}, RARA (retinoic acid receptor alpha) [NCBI Gene 5914] {aka NR1B1, RAR, RARalpha}, PRKAA1 (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 1) [NCBI Gene 5562] {aka AMPK, AMPK alpha 1, AMPKa1}, SYP (synaptophysin) [NCBI Gene 6855] {aka MRX96, MRXSYP, XLID96}, MIR137 (microRNA 137) [NCBI Gene 406928] {aka MIRN137, miR-137}, Fth1 (ferritin heavy polypeptide 1) [NCBI Gene 14319] {aka FHC, Fth, HFt, MFH}, Gpx4 (glutathione peroxidase 4) [NCBI Gene 625249] {aka GPx-4, GSHPx-4, PHGPx, mtPHGPx, snGPx}, SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) [NCBI Gene 6647] {aka ALS, ALS1, HEL-S-44, IPOA, SOD, STAHP}, ACSL4 (acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4) [NCBI Gene 2182] {aka ACS4, FACL4, LACS4, MRX63, MRX68, XLID63}, NFE2L2 (NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2) [NCBI Gene 4780] {aka IMDDHH, NRF2, Nrf-2}, Syn1 (synapsin I) [NCBI Gene 20964] {aka Syn-1, Syn1-S}, Aldh2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, mitochondrial) [NCBI Gene 11669] {aka AHD-M1, ALDH-E2, ALDHI, Ahd-5, Ahd5}, TRDMT1 (tRNA aspartic acid methyltransferase 1) [NCBI Gene 1787] {aka DMNT2, DNMT2, MHSAIIP, PUMET, RNMT1}, NUP62 (nucleoporin 62) [NCBI Gene 23636] {aka IBSN, SNDI, p62}, ALOX12 (arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase, 12S type) [NCBI Gene 239] {aka 12-LOX, 12S-LOX, LOG12}, Prkcb (protein kinase C, beta) [NCBI Gene 18751] {aka PKC-B, PKC-Beta, Pkcb, Prkcb1, Prkcb2}, HMOX1 (heme oxygenase 1) [NCBI Gene 3162] {aka HMOX1D, HO-1, HSP32, bK286B10}, PIK3CB (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta) [NCBI Gene 5291] {aka P110BETA, PI3K, PI3KBETA, PIK3C1}, GSK3B (glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta) [NCBI Gene 2932], EHMT2 (euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2) [NCBI Gene 10919] {aka BAT8, C6orf30, G9A, GAT8, KMT1C, NG36}, Slc40a1 (solute carrier family 40 (iron-regulated transporter), member 1) [NCBI Gene 53945] {aka Dusg, Fpn1, IREG1, MTP, MTP1, Ol5}, ALOX15 (arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase) [NCBI Gene 246] {aka 12-LOX, 15-LOX, 15-LOX-1, LOG15}, GSS (glutathione synthetase) [NCBI Gene 2937] {aka CNSHA6, GSHS, HEL-S-64p, HEL-S-88n}, GPX4 (glutathione peroxidase 4) [NCBI Gene 2879] {aka GPx-4, GSHPx-4, MCSP, PHGPx, SMDS, snGPx}, HMGB1 (high mobility group box 1) [NCBI Gene 3146] {aka HMG-1, HMG1, HMG3, SBP-1}, PSEN1 (presenilin 1) [NCBI Gene 5663] {aka ACNINV3, AD3, CMD1U, FAD, PS-1, PS1}, Fasn (fatty acid synthase) [NCBI Gene 14104] {aka A630082H08Rik, FAS}, Hmgcr (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase) [NCBI Gene 15357] {aka HMG-CoAR, Red}, POR (cytochrome p450 oxidoreductase) [NCBI Gene 5447] {aka CPR, CYPOR, P450R}, HAMP (hepcidin antimicrobial peptide) [NCBI Gene 57817] {aka HEPC, HFE2B, LEAP1, PLTR}, ACO2 (aconitase 2) [NCBI Gene 50] {aka ACONM, HEL-S-284, ICRD, OCA8, OPA9}, Acsl4 (acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4) [NCBI Gene 50790] {aka 9430020A05Rik, ACS4, Facl4, Lacs4}, IFNG (interferon gamma) [NCBI Gene 3458] {aka IFG, IFI, IMD69}, CDK5 (cyclin dependent kinase 5) [NCBI Gene 1020] {aka LIS7, PSSALRE}, LOX (lysyl oxidase) [NCBI Gene 4015] {aka AAT10}, SLC1A5 (solute carrier family 1 member 5) [NCBI Gene 6510] {aka AAAT, ASCT2, ATBO, M7V1, M7VS1, R16}, PTK2B (protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta) [NCBI Gene 2185] {aka CADTK, CAKB, FADK2, FAK2, PKB, PTK}, DNMT1 (DNA methyltransferase 1) [NCBI Gene 1786] {aka ADCADN, AIM, CXXC9, DNMT, HSN1E, MCMT}, MIR146A (microRNA 146a) [NCBI Gene 406938] {aka MIRN146, MIRN146A, miR-146a, miRNA146A}, PTGS2 (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2) [NCBI Gene 5743] {aka COX-2, COX2, GRIPGHS, PGG/HS, PGHS-2, PHS-2}, Nfe2l2 (nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2, like 2) [NCBI Gene 18024] {aka Nrf2}, Ftl1 (ferritin light polypeptide 1) [NCBI Gene 14325] {aka Ftl, Ftl-1, L-ferritin}, TLR4 (toll like receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 7099] {aka ARMD10, CD284, TLR-4, TOLL}
- **Diseases:** reperfusion injury (MESH:D015427), Neutropenia (MESH:D009503), vascular dysfunction (MESH:D002561), cytotoxic (MESH:D064420), neuronal death (MESH:D009410), dementia (MESH:D003704), amyloid (MESH:C000718787), hepatic/renal toxicity (MESH:D056486), necrosis (MESH:D009336), synaptic dysfunction (MESH:C536122), frontotemporal dementia (MESH:D057180), memory deficits (MESH:D008569), cognitive alterations (MESH:D003072), Iron overload (MESH:D019190), neurodegeneration (MESH:D019636), HL (MESH:C538324), pancreatic ductal hyperplasia (MESH:D021441), inflammation (MESH:D007249), Parkinson's disease (MESH:D010300), ETC (MESH:D028361), cancer (MESH:D009369), medial temporal lobe atrophy (MESH:D004833), neuropsychiatric symptoms (MESH:D001523), AD (MESH:D000544), synaptic failure (MESH:D051437), neurotoxic (MESH:D020258), Lewy body disease (MESH:D020961), atrophy (MESH:D001284), neuroinflammation (MESH:D000090862), bleeding (MESH:D006470), cardiac and neurological dysfunction (MESH:D009461), ischemia (MESH:D007511), FRDA (MESH:D005621), iron (MESH:D000090463), NFTs (MESH:D055956)
- **Chemicals:** S (MESH:D013455), curcumin (MESH:D003474), necrostatin-1 (MESH:C507699), PE (MESH:C483858), iridoid glycoside (MESH:D057889), 5xFAD (-), cystine (MESH:D003553), erastin (MESH:C477224), lysophospholipids (MESH:D008246), PUFA (MESH:D005231), NADPH (MESH:D009249), Heme (MESH:D006418), Vitamin K (MESH:D014812), sulfhydryl (MESH:D013438), peroxide (MESH:D010545), aducanumab (MESH:C000600266), MDA (MESH:D008315), fatty acid (MESH:D005227), selenium (MESH:D012643), TCA (MESH:D014238), coenzyme A. (MESH:D003065), GSH (MESH:D005978), peroxynitrite (MESH:D030421), ATP (MESH:D000255), alpha-tocopherol (MESH:D024502), XJB-5-131 (MESH:C523959), lipopolysaccharide (MESH:D008070), phylloquinone (MESH:D010837), Lipid (MESH:D008055), cysteine (MESH:D003545), H (MESH:D006859), N-Acetylcysteine (MESH:D000111), NADH (MESH:D009243), gosuranemab (MESH:C000707052), FADH2 (MESH:C058805), ROS (MESH:D017382), Sec (MESH:D017279), chromanol (MESH:C029141), ubiquinol (MESH:C003741), eriodictyol (MESH:C007619), gold (MESH:D006046), menadione (MESH:D024483), succinate (MESH:D019802), Fer-1 (MESH:C573944), AdA (MESH:C011395), oxygen (MESH:D010100), Ginkgolide B (MESH:C045856), PI (MESH:D010716), Vitamin E (MESH:D014810), Lipoic acid (MESH:D008063), bilirubin (MESH:D001663), DFP (MESH:D000077543), LOOH (MESH:D008054), DFO (MESH:D003676), pentose phosphate (MESH:D010428), CoQ (MESH:C024989), sulforaphane (MESH:C016766), lecanemab (MESH:C000612089), Free radical (MESH:D005609), cardiolipin (MESH:D002308)
- **Species:** Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Forsythia suspensa (species) [taxon 126418], HF [taxon 2008765], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]
- **Cell lines:** HT22 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0321), HeLa — Homo sapiens (Human), Human papillomavirus-related endocervical adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0030)

## Full text

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## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12920192/full.md

## References

252 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12920192/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12920192