News & Research
Insulin Levels May Hold Dementia Key
Insulin levels in the brain may help scientists understand the progress of dementia, according to researchers at Colorado State University.
Low levels of both insulin and insulin-like growth factors may cause cell loss and brain shrinkage that result in dementia. Further research on this discovery may help prevent dementia in people with diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions.
Current treatments for dementia are largely hindered by the blood-brain barrier, preventing substances in the blood from entering the brain. Because of this, a person with diabetes or Alzheimer's may have high levels of insulin in the blood, but abnormally low insulin levels in the brain.
Researchers have already been attempting to understand the link between diabetes and dementia.
Approximately 80 percent of Alzheimer's patients have a history of diabetes or pre-diabetes, and diabetes patients are at elevated risk of developing dementia. This new research will be published in the journal Brain Research later in November.
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Denver Post (CO) (11/05/09) Whaley, Monte
