Trends and Research Frontiers in Mammalian Target of Rapamycin and Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a pivotal role in regulating neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, both of which are crucial for the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to delineate the research trends concerning mTOR and AD through bibliometric analysis.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database to retrieve publications relevant to mTOR and AD from 2003 to 2025. Subsequently, bibliometric analysis and visualization were performed utilizing VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package "Bibliometrix."

RESULTS

A total of 1,025 articles were included in the analysis. The annual publication growth rate reached 21.22%, peaking in 2022. The three most cited articles addressed topics such as autophagy induction and clearance in neurons related to AD pathology, mTOR in microglial metabolic fitness, and mTOR inhibition against cognitive deficits. China led in publication volume, followed by the USA. The University of Texas System, Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio emerged as the top 3 institutions. Oddo Salvatore ranked as the top author by H-index. Keyword analysis revealed four prominent clusters: cellular signaling and neuroplasticity, molecular mechanisms, neuroprotective effects of mTOR inhibition, and roles of mTOR in AD pathogenesis. Burst analysis identified "target," "neuroinflammation," "stress," "kinase," and "clearance" as the latest hotspots in the field.

CONCLUSION

This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of publication trends related to mTOR and AD. Future research is anticipated to focus on refining mTOR inhibitors as a therapeutic strategy and further exploring the underlying mechanisms of AD.