A recent study from Umeå University, Sweden, has revealed that individuals with type 2 diabetes may have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive health issues.
This heightened risk is believed to be due to the body’s impaired ability to clear a specific protein associated with Alzheimer’s, potentially leading to a higher likelihood of the disease’s onset in people with type 2 diabetes.
The study, led by senior professor Olov Rolandsson, focused on the role of beta-amyloids, which are key components of the plaques found in Alzheimer’s patients’ brains.
The researchers compared the levels of these beta-amyloids in the blood of individuals with type 2 diabetes to those in a healthy control group. The study also measured the enzyme responsible for breaking down these beta-amyloids.
Participants in both groups were subjected to glucose infusions, inducing high blood sugar levels, after which their blood was tested for changes in beta-amyloid and the corresponding enzyme levels. Initially, both groups showed similar levels, but as time passed, the healthy group’s beta-amyloid levels decreased, and the enzyme levels increased.
However, in the type 2 diabetes group, no such changes were observed, suggesting a reduced ability to manage beta-amyloid in the body.
The study’s findings suggest that people with type 2 diabetes may be at greater risk for cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s due to their body’s inability to adequately process and remove beta-amyloids. This impaired clearance could lead to the accumulation of these proteins in the brain, contributing to cognitive decline.
While the study involved a small sample size of 10 individuals with type 2 diabetes and 11 healthy controls, the results highlight the need for further research to confirm these findings. The research also emphasizes the importance of managing type 2 diabetes and preventing high blood sugar episodes to potentially reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive health issues.
