Diabetes Drug May Cure Alzheimer’s

Recent studies have shown that Alzheimer’s is a metabolic disease, much like diabetes. For this reason, it has been termed “Type 3 Diabetes” by some researchers.

Alzheimer’s may be caused by impaired insulin signaling in the brain, which damages nerve cells and further decomposes brain tissue.

Drug designed for patients with diabetes could treat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases

A study by the University of Ulster found that a drug designed to target Type II diabetes may have greater applications for keeping brain cells healthy and preventing Alzheimer’s.

The neurodegeneration that takes place in Alzheimer’s disease is no longer just an issue of the brain. It is now linked to a number of specific changes in the anatomy, biochemistry, and molecular structures of the brain. A problem with diagnosing Alzheimer’s is that the changes occurring in the brain cannot be definitively detected until an autopsy is performed after the patient has died.

In 2005, it was discovered that insulin is produced in both the pancreas and the brain, and increasing evidence has shown that impaired glucose regulation in the brain (an other abnormal metabolic factors) may play a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s. Much like diabetes, Alzheimer’s patients may benefit from correcting deficiencies in the insulin signaling pathways in the brain, which could preserve mental function.

The brain and blood stream are connected by a Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) that ensures our brain is kept safe from environmental exposure that may harm it. An experimental drug known as (Val8)GLP-1 is capable of crossing the barrier between the blood stream and the brain in order to restore a healthy chemical balance, and it does not appear to have any side effects.

(Val8)GLP-1 may promote new brain cells to grow in the hippocampus region of the brain, an area involved in memory. This suggests that it may signal enough insulin to protect the brain from memory degeneration, which is a factor of Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Simon Ridley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said "We are pleased to have supported this early stage research, suggesting that this experimental diabetes drug could also promote the growth of new brain cells... This research will help us understand the factors that keep nerve cells healthy, knowledge that could hold vital clues to tackling Alzheimer’s."