Research Suggests Alzheimer's Could Be 'Type-3' Diabetes
posted 4:20 pm Tue November 20, 2007 - Tulsa
Could Alzheimer's disease actually be a kind of diabetes? New research is starting to support the idea. In normal brains, insulin fits into places on cells called receptors, allowing memories to form.
But, in people with Alzheimer's, a type of toxic protein attaches to those receptors, causing them to disappear.
"So, even if there is insulin around now, the receptor isn't there to respond to it," says Neuroscientist Bill Klein. "And, we think that's very crucial in blocking memory in Alzheimer's disease."
Doctors say the evidence is strong enough to suggest that Alzheimer's might be a Type-3 diabetes and modifying current diabetes drugs could bring new treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
This study appears in this month's issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
But, in people with Alzheimer's, a type of toxic protein attaches to those receptors, causing them to disappear.
"So, even if there is insulin around now, the receptor isn't there to respond to it," says Neuroscientist Bill Klein. "And, we think that's very crucial in blocking memory in Alzheimer's disease." Doctors say the evidence is strong enough to suggest that Alzheimer's might be a Type-3 diabetes and modifying current diabetes drugs could bring new treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
This study appears in this month's issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
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