Traditional Chinese Medicine Natural Products Targeting Shared Mechanisms of T2DM and AD: Potential Therapeutic Insights

As highly prevalent chronic diseases globally, AD (Alzheimer's disease) and T2DM (type 2 diabetes mellitus) not only severely affect the quality of life of patients but also impose a significant burden on their families. Numerous studies have gradually revealed that T2DM and AD are bidirectional risk factors, each capable of exacerbating the other. There is a notable correlation in their pathological mechanisms, primarily manifested in insulin resistance, OS (oxidative stress), and inflammatory responses. Currently, available drugs can only delay the progression of AD, such as Donepezil, Galantamine, and Carbamylcholine, making complete cures challenging to achieve. TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) natural products exhibit characteristics such as multi-targeting, multi-pathway interactions, diverse biological activities, and relatively mild side effects, enabling synergistic intervention in both diseases. In recent years, TCM natural products have garnered increasing attention in research concentrated on the prevention and management of AD and T2DM. This article aims to comprehensively elucidate the collective pathogenic mechanism of AD and T2DM, and explore the progress of TCM natural products based on these mechanisms in the prevention and treatment of both diseases, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the advancement of innovative treatment tactics.