Volume 39, Issue 8 e70405
REVIEW

Exploring the Endoplasmic Reticulum's Role in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Potential as a Therapeutic Target

Raed Obaid Saleh

Corresponding Author

Raed Obaid Saleh

Department of Medical Laboratories Techniques, College of Health and Medical Techniques, University of Al Maarif, Al Anbar, Iraq

Correspondence: Raed Obaid Saleh ([email protected])

Majid S. Jabir ([email protected])

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Majid S. Jabir

Corresponding Author

Majid S. Jabir

College of Applied Sciences, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq

Correspondence: Raed Obaid Saleh ([email protected])

Majid S. Jabir ([email protected])

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Jaafaru Sani Mohammed

Jaafaru Sani Mohammed

Medical Analysis Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq

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Irfan Ahmad

Irfan Ahmad

Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

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Subbulakshmi Ganesan

Subbulakshmi Ganesan

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India

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Aman Shankhyan

Aman Shankhyan

Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India

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Anima Nanda

Anima Nanda

Department of Biomedical, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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Subhashree Ray

Subhashree Ray

Department of Biochemistry, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

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Ahmed Hussein Zwamel

Ahmed Hussein Zwamel

Department of Medical Analysis, Medical Laboratory Technique College, the Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq

Department of Medical Analysis, Medical Laboratory Technique College, the Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq

Department of Medical Analysis, Medical Laboratory Technique College, the Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq

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Ahmed Remthan Hussein

Ahmed Remthan Hussein

Department of pharmacy, Mazaya university college, Nasiriyah, Iraq

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First published: 28 July 2025

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition marked by cognitive decline, particularly in memory and reasoning, which often culminates in severe dementia. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms underlying AD remain elusive. One of the key contributors to AD pathogenesis is the dysfunction of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), an organelle involved in protein folding, calcium regulation, and lipid metabolism. When ER function is compromised, it leads to ER stress, a condition increasingly associated with AD development. ER stress activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), a cellular mechanism that, when overstressed, can result in neuronal death. Further research has revealed how ER stress interacts with other hallmark features of AD, including amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting ER stress and its associated pathways could present new therapeutic avenues for AD. This review examines the role of the ER in AD, outlining the mechanisms through which ER dysfunction accelerates disease progression and evaluating novel therapeutic strategies designed to restore ER balance and mitigate AD symptoms.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The author confirms that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

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