Cognitive impairment may be a consequence of the normal aging process, but it may also be the hallmark of various neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Early identification of individuals at particular risk for cognitive decline is critical, as it is imperative to maintain a cognitive reserve in these neuropsychiatric entities.
In recent years, galectin-3 Gal-3 , a member of the galectin family, has received considerable attention with respect to aspects of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The mechanisms behind the putative relationship between Gal-3 and cognitive impairment are not yet clear. Intrigued by this versatile molecule and its unique modular architecture, the latest data on this relationship are presented here. This mini-review summarizes recent findings on the mechanisms by which Gal-3 affects cognitive functioning in both animal and human models.
Particular emphasis is placed on the role of Gal-3 in modulating the inflammatory response as a fine-tuner of microglia morphology and phenotype. A review of recent literature on the utility of Gal-3 as a biomarker is provided, and approaches to strategically exploit Gal-3 activities with therapeutic intentions in neuropsychiatric diseases are outlined. Cognition as a higher brain function includes major cognitive domains such as memory, attention, language, executive and visuospatial functions.
Various diseases, somatic disturbances or toxins can affect all these domains and lead to cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive impairment could be a consequence of chronic neurodegenerative processes characterized by poor learning and memory Nilsson, , which can lead to severe personality deterioration Caselli et al. Cognitive functioning should be interpreted not only in the context of physiological aging and the onset of dementia Popa-Wagner et al. In physiological and pathological conditions, early identification of individuals at risk of cognitive decline is critical in neuropsychiatric clinical practice, as is maintenance of cognitive potential.
There is an urgent need for biomarker discovery and validation as a clinical tool for early detection, prognosis, monitoring of cognitive alterations, and development of strategies to preserve cognitive abilities.
