Alzheimer's disease, ceramide, visfatin and NAD.

This review discusses new mechanisms for the induction of Alzheimer's disease, involving lipid toxicity and adipokines. Ceramide induces oxidative stress and the formation of amyloid beta. Visfatin induces oxidative stress, damages the blood brain barrier and increases the attraction of monocytes, neutrophils and other white blood cells. A new mechanism for visfatin/NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)-induced oxidative stress is presented involving redox cycling catalyzed by xanthine dehydrogenase and NADH oxidase. These mechanisms are discussed in terms of the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.