It’s an accepted fact that people with diabetes have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s. A Mayo Clinic neuroscientist explains that one reason may be due to reduced blood flow to the brain caused by damaged blood vessels.
Dr. Guojun Bu, Ph.D.: “Therefore, the sort of supply of this essential nutrient to the brain is also impaired.”
Mayo Clinic neuroscientist Dr. Guojun Bu has found genetics may also be to blame. A variant of the so called Alzheimer’s gene, APOe4, seems to interfere with brain cells’ ability to use insulin, which may
eventually cause the cells to starve and die.
Unofficially it’s called, “Type 3 Diabetes.”
“What it refers to is that the brain insulin utilization or signaling is not functioning. Their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is about 10 to 15 times higher,” Dr. Bu said.
Researchers wondered, “If it is diabetes of the brain, could insulin delivered in an intranasal mist help?”
Dr. Bu noted, “The outcome is very positive. Patient cognitive decline is slowed, if not improved.”
Subsequent studies replicating the outcome have proved equally positive thus far.
SOURCE:
REFERENCE:
Rosenbloom M, Barclay TR, Kashyap B, Hage L, O’Keefe LR, Svitak A, Pyle M, Frey W, Hanson LR. A Phase II, Single-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Therapeutic Efficacy of Intranasal Glulisine in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Probable Mild Alzheimer’s Disease. Drugs Aging. 2021 May;38(5):407-415. doi: 10.1007/s40266-021-00845-7. Epub 2021 Mar 15. PMID: 33719017.
