Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (6): 1527-1538.doi: 10.12307/2026.603

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Aging-related dysregulation of glucose metabolism: crossroads of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases

Liu Huan1, Zeng Shaopeng1, Chen Jun1, He Linqian1, Yang Ying1, Zhang Jing1, 2    

  1. 1Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China; 2National Human Brain Bank for Health and Disease, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang Province, China 
  • Received:2025-02-06 Accepted:2025-04-24 Online:2026-02-28 Published:2025-07-18
  • Contact: Yang Ying, Distinguished Research Fellow, Master’s supervisor, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China Co-corresponding author: Zhang Jing, Chief physician, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Human Brain Bank for Health and Disease, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang Province, China
  • About author:Liu Huan, MS candidate, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 82020108012 (to ZJ) and 82371250 (to YY); Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, No. LZ23H090002 (to YY); Key Research & Development Program of Zhejiang Province, Nos. 2024C03098  (to ZJ) and 2024SSYS0018 (to ZJ [project participant])

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies indicate that individuals with neurodegenerative diseases exhibit a comparatively lower risk of developing the majority of cancers. Although the precise mechanisms underlying this inverse correlation remain unclear, it is noteworthy that aberrant glucose metabolism, a pathological factor common to both conditions, may significantly contribute to this association.
OBJECTIVE: To review the potential relationship between cancers and neurodegenerative diseases in glucose metabolism.
METHODS: PubMed was searched for relevant literature using the search terms of “cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, metabolic reprogramming, glucose metabolism, aerobic glycolysis, neuroprotection, aging,” and 136 articles were finally included for analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cancer and neurodegenerative diseases exhibit a profound pathological correlation at the level of glucose metabolism imbalance associated with aging. Cancer cells promote uncontrolled proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through the persistent activation of aerobic glycolysis, whereas neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a reduction in aerobic glycolysis. Restoring aerobic glycolysis may confer neuroprotective effects and delay disease progression. The key nodes of glucose metabolism demonstrate a bidirectional regulatory pattern: metabolic regulators, which are significantly upregulated or aberrantly activated in cancer, are inhibited or functionally inactivated in neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondria play a crucial role in mediating the aging process through the regulation of reactive oxygen species homeostasis and mitochondrial autophagy. They establish regulatory networks that connect cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, and maintaining their functional homeostasis is of paramount importance for disease prevention and treatment.

Key words: cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, metabolic reprogramming, glucose metabolism, aerobic glycolysis, neuroprotection, aging

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