Drugs used to treat diabetes may also be effective against Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests.
Scientists have found that the two conditions are strongly linked, raising the possibility of shared drug responses.
Medicines currently used to control glucose levels in diabetes may also alleviate the symptoms and progression of Alzheimer’s, the team claims.
The study showed for the first time that dementia-related effects in the brain can lead to changes in the body’s handling of glucose, and ultimately to diabetes.
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen investigated why the two conditions are so often found together in elderly patients.
Scientists have found that the two conditions are strongly linked
Studying Alzheimer’s disease in mice, they found that increased activity of a gene involved in the production of toxic brain proteins was also linked to diabetic complications.
Lead scientist Bettina Platt said: “Many people are unaware of the relationship between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, but the fact is that around 80 per cent of people with Alzheimer’s disease also have some form of diabetes or disturbed glucose metabolism.
“This is hugely relevant as Alzheimer’s is in the vast majority of cases not inherited, and lifestyle factors and comorbidities [co-existing conditions] must therefore be to blame.
“Our research teams are particularly interested in the impact of lifestyle related factors in dementia and by collaborating with experts in diabetes and metabolism, we have been able to investigate the nature of the link in great detail.
“Until now, we always assumed that obese people get Type 2 diabetes and then are more likely to get dementia. We now show that actually it also works the other way around.”
The findings, published in the journal Diabetologia, indicate a “new therapeutic angle” to treating Alzheimer’s, she said.
Platt added: “We now think that some of the compounds that are used for obesity and diabetic deregulation might potentially be beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients as well.
“The good news is that there are a number of new drugs available right now which we are testing to see if they would reverse both Alzheimer’s and diabetes symptoms. We will also be able to study whether new treatments developed for Alzheimer’s can improve both, the diabetic and cognitive symptoms.”