Study links diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease

May 1, 2008 | Source: KurzweilAI

Salk Institute researchers have identified a probable molecular basis for the connection between diabetes and a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

In young mice with diabetes, beta amyloid (found in Alzheimer’s) and elevated blood glucose appeared to interact. This caused an overproduction of free radicals, leading to oxidative damage to the cells lining the brain’s blood vessels.

Diabetic patients have a 30 to 65 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to non-diabetic individuals. This research both explains this connection and identifies targets for drug development.

Salk Institute News Release