Chromium and Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease occurring more in elderly people characterized by cognitive dysfunction. Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus are the prominent pathological features of AD. Further, detrimental features like insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation are the triggers of AD. Food habits like insufficient nutrient intake and lack of fruit and vegetable consumption accelerate neurodegeneration. Chromium, one of the essential micronutrients, has been considered beneficial for human brain health. Other vital trace elements include zinc, iron, copper, iodine, cobalt, etc. The significant characteristic potential of chromium includes upregulating insulin signaling, mitigating insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. It is generally ingested with diet and water, though marketed supplements are also available. Further, studies depicted that chromium has a role in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, like Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, and depression.