Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease Linked

Type 2 Diabetes and Alzeimer's disease seems to be linked. But there may be a glimmer of hope, even though people with type 2 diabetes are thought to be up to 5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease in later life, if they live that long.

The Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System led the initial research into the possibility of a link between Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The research, led by Suzanne Craft, suggests that Alzheimer's develops when the brain cells cannot use sugar properly, similar to the problems Type 2 diabetics get with insulin resistance.

However, there may be some good news. Clinical trials into a diabetic drug that may slow the generation of Alzheimer's are scheduled for this summer.

GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical company, is planning the 3 phase III clinical trials to test whether the diabetic drug Avandia (also know as rosiglitazone), which helps to control blood-sugars, could be used to prevent the development of Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's sufferers are expected to reach 14 million by 2050 and, if the research into the link between type 2 diabetes and Alzeimer's is confirmed, the current epidemic of type 2 diabetes, caused by obesity, will make the situation worse.

Glaxo's Allen Roses, an Alzheime's research, published the diabetes hypothesis at the end of April in the medical journal 'Alzheimer's and Dementia'.

Source: The Columbus Despatch.