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Dr. Mercola
October 16 2007

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Is Alzheimer's a Form of Diabetes?

More evidence has been uncovered that Alzheimer’s disease may actually be a third form of diabetes, according to researchers from Northwestern University.

Insulin and insulin receptors in your brain are crucial for learning and memory, and it’s known that these components are lower in people with Alzheimer’s disease. In your brain, insulin binds to an insulin receptor at a synapse, which triggers a mechanism that allows nerve cells to survive and memories to form.

The Northwestern University researchers have found that a toxic protein in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients -- called ADDL for “amyloid ß-derived diffusible ligand” -- removes insulin receptors from nerve cells, and renders those neurons insulin resistant.

The findings suggest that ADDLs accumulate at the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease and thereby block memory function.

The process is currently thought to be reversible.

The researchers speculated that drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, which also causes insulin resistance, may “supercede currently available Alzheimer’s drugs.”

The FASEB Journal August 24, 2007

Physorg.com September 26, 2007



Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Alzheimer’s disease was tentatively dubbed “type 3 diabetes” in early 2005 when researchers learned that your pancreas is not your only organ that produces insulin. Your brain also produces insulin, and this brain insulin is necessary for the survival of your brain cells.

Interestingly, while low insulin levels are typically associated with improved health, the opposite appears to be true for your brain.

A drop in insulin production in your brain contributes to the degeneration of your brain cells, and studies have found that people with lower levels of insulin and insulin receptors in their brain often have Alzheimer’s disease.

This new study from Northwestern University has found that a toxic protein may be rendering your neurons insulin resistant and blocking your memory function.

Another noteworthy connection between Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes came out in 2004, when it was revealed that people with diabetes might have a 65 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

How to Prevent Diabetes AND Alzheimer’s Disease

No one is likely to be measuring your brain insulin levels in the near future (although a test that measures ADDL in your spinal fluid claims to detect Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages). And the best “treatment” for Alzheimer’s disease continues to be prevention, not drugs.

It is not a coincidence that three of the most important methods I recommend to prevent Alzheimer’s disease are identical to those recommended to prevent diabetes, because the single most important physical factor that is responsible for accelerating nearly every chronic disease known to man is to normalize your insulin and leptin levels. This is true for everything, from slowing down the aging process to maximizing the energy you have.

So this normalization would typically lower insulin and leptin levels in your body and raise them in your brain. If you want to significantly cut your risk of both of these diseases, you can:
  • Get plenty of high-quality omega-3 in your diet, such as by taking a krill oil supplement. A diet rich in omega-3 fats has been found to ward off both Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.


Related Links:

  Your Brain Makes Insulin and it Might Cause Alzheimer's

  You Don’t Have to Get Alzheimer's

  Dangerous Offender, Obesity, is Tied to Alzheimer's




Comment on This Article
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Posted On Sep 28, 2007
The concluding sentence of the article states: “With proper research and development the drug arsenal for type 2 diabetes, in which individuals become insulin resistant, may be translated to Alzheimer’s treatment,” said Klein. “I think such drugs could supercede currently available Alzheimer’s drugs.”


I propose ending the article with the sentence: "It is the high fructose corn syrup--stupid"


Does anyone else wish to propose an alternative ending?

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foxtroter_203
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Posted On Sep 28, 2007
Too long an ending for the illiterates at FDA, Foxtroter;

"IT'S THE HFCS!"

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Posted On Sep 28, 2007
Great awesome discovery.  Wrong ending.  Keep it simple stupid....NOT more drugs, nutrition, proper nutrition with food the way God made it.

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Patty D
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Posted On Sep 28, 2007
Occum's Razor (Invariably The Simplest Answer Tends To Be The Correct One):

Where was Alzheimer's as a "disease" prior to the dumbing-down of all absorbable nutrient values in the food and beverage chain in the past 40, or so, years?

We remain, in part, beyond genetic predispositions, what we consume, do, expose ourselves to, practice, etc.

Your memory may vary,

Uncle Russ

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Posted On Oct 01, 2007
Reply to Russ - Actually, Russ, it seems that Alzheimer's, or something like it, did exist, but it just wasn't made a big deal of--at least as early as the 20's.  In a P.G. Wodehouse book from the 20s, he says (and this is a paraphrase), describing an uncle or something, that "he had reached that stage of life where close relations and recent happenings were beyond recall, but his childhood and early memories were an open book to him."  He wrote hundreds of great books and, unfortunately, I can't think of which one it was in.  They're fabulous books, though, so start at the beginning, and you'll find it--laughing all the way through!!

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Posted On Oct 01, 2007
Hmmmm, "I can't think of which one it was in"...

Cognitive function, beyond genetic predisposition, indeed can be degraded, or enhanced, by life style choices, and nutrient absorption (or also lack thereof).

Reading, PG Woodhouse, would tend to suggest to me, that you will have a long and happy and healthy cognitive future Kelann...

Me thinks (also) more than one mind,just might, have gotten a bit fuzzy in The Roaring 20's, if not from PG Woodhouse's droll and wry character descriptions, on the generous use or consumption of "adult liquid alcoholic libations"...

To Your Best Health!

Uncle Russ

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Posted On Oct 02, 2007
Russ,

    "I can't remember..."--ha ha ha!  Didn't even notice that when I was typing it.   I'm not sure which is worse!

    In any event, to your best health as well!  

    Cheers!!  (With a delicious green juice "coctail".)

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Posted On Sep 30, 2007
Good study, but they are asking the wrong questions.  I would want to know what makes the receptors insulin resistant.  I would be willing to bet it has to do with nutrition.

Mary

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Posted On Oct 01, 2007
I have to wonder, if so many elderly people are given the flu vaccine, isn't it possible that one or more of its many toxic ingredients could contribute to the development of Alzheimers?

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Posted On Oct 01, 2007
PepperR23, I never thought about that.  Everyone in my family has had problems with flu vaccines.  I remember my aunt saying my grandmother had a bad reaction to a flu shot, and then she just wasn't doing good and then came the diagnosis of Alzheimer's.

I am sure in that population with being over-drugged, bad processed food due to inability to shop and cook, and vaccines it is a wonder
any seniors have a mind left.

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Posted On Sep 28, 2007
You are so right Patty D..... my husband is on the road all the time. His cholesterol was 380. Since he has been at home eating right for 4 months it is only 180.  He asked me how did that happen???? I just laughed.

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