Could Alzheimers be Type 2 diabetes? Scientists claim extra insulin produced by those with disease disrupts brain chemistry Extra insulin produced in people with disease changes brains chemistry Excess of hormone creates amyloid proteins - which poison brain cells 2.5m have Type 2 and 80% are overweight. Alzheimers affects 500,000 By Lizzie Edmonds PUBLISHED: 12:08 EST, 1 December 2013 | UPDATED: 12:09 EST, 1 December 2013 Neurological disease Alzheimers could be the late stages of Type 2 diabetes, scientists have found. Researchers at Albany University in New York State say extra insulin produced in those with Type 2 (T2) may disrupt the chemistry of the brain. Eventually masses of amyloid proteins - which poison brain cells - are created because of the excess which leads to Alzheimers, they say. The discovery could explain why people who develop T2 diabetes often show sharp declines in cognitive function, with an estimated 70% developing Alzheimer’s — far more than in the rest of the population, Ewan McNay from the University told The Sunday Times. He added: People who develop diabetes have to realise this is about more than controlling their weight or diet. It’s also the first step on the road to cognitive decline. At first they won’t be able to keep up with their kids playing games, but in 30 years’ time they may not even recognise them. According to the National Diabetes Audit, about 2.5m people have Type 2 diabetes, 80 per cent of which were overweight or obese. Alzheimers affects 500,000 Britons. The increased risk of Alzheimers for those with Type 2 has been suspected among the scientific community for a while. However, as many people with Type 2 are obese and therefore have shorter life-expectancies, little research has been conducted. The scientists experimented on rats, feeding them a diet with a high-fat content in the hope the would develop Type 2. They then tested the animals brains and found their memory skills rapidly went down hill as their diabetes progressed. When researchers looks at the rats brains areas of amyloid protein could be seen. Patients with Alzheimers have similar patterns. McNay, who says hes cut down on chocolate since conducting the research, believes the clumps develop because, as the body becomes resistant to insulin, it produces more of the hormone. Excess insulin then travels to the brain where it is supposed to be controlled by an enzyme that breaks down amyloid. He explained: High levels of insulin swamp this enzyme so that it stops breaking down amyloid. The latter then accumulates until it forms toxic clumps that poison brain cells. It’s the same amyloid build-up to blame in both diseases — T2 diabetics really do have low-level Alzheimer’s.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:06:29 +0000
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