The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and future strategies for targeted therapy.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline, behavioral impairments, and psychiatric comorbidities. The pathogenesis of AD remains incompletely elucidated, despite advances in dominant hypotheses such as the β-amyloid (Aβ) cascade, tauopathy, cholinergic deficiency, and neuroinflammation mechanisms. However, these hypotheses inadequately explain the multifactorial nature of AD, which exposes limitations in our understanding of its mechanisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction is known to play a pivotal role in AD, and since patients exhibit intracellular mitochondrial dysfunction and structural changes in the brain at an early stage, correcting the imbalance of mitochondrial homeostasis and the cytopathological changes caused by it may be a potential target for early treatment of AD. Mitochondrial structural abnormalities accelerate AD pathogenesis. For instance, structural and functional alterations in the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM) can disrupt intracellular Ca2⁺ homeostasis and cholesterol metabolism, consequently promoting Aβ accumulation. In addition, the overaccumulation of Aβ and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins can further damage neurons by disrupting mitochondrial integrity and mitophagy, thereby amplifying pathological aggregation and exacerbating neurodegeneration in AD. Furthermore, Aβ deposition and abnormal tau proteins can disrupt mitochondrial dynamics through dysregulation of fission/fusion proteins, leading to excessive mitochondrial fragmentation and subsequent dysfunction. Additionally, hyperphosphorylated tau proteins can impair mitochondrial transport, resulting in axonal dysfunction in AD. This article reviews the biological significance of mitochondrial structural morphology, dynamics, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) instability in AD pathology, emphasizing mitophagy abnormalities as a critical contributor to AD progression. Additionally, mitochondrial biogenesis and proteostasis are critical for maintaining mitochondrial function and integrity. Impairments in these processes have been implicated in the progression of AD, further highlighting the multifaceted role of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration. It further discusses the therapeutic potential of mitochondria-targeted strategies for AD drug development.