Diabetes Type 3—a “brain specific” disease—is far from understood and very much uncharted territory in the medical community. Diagnosis and treatment strategies remain in the early stages, and further research is necessary to determine the connection between diabetes type 3 and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. Diabetes increases the risk of AD by up to 65%.
The American Diabetes Association says that although a standard definition for type 3 diabetes has yet to be established, it is sometimes called “double diabetes” because it describes those with type 1 diabetes who also show signs of insulin resistance.
Diabetes is a clear metabolic risk factor for AD and dementia, possibly through insulin signaling or secondary cardiovascular effects. Recently it was discovered that the brain produces insulin in a way similar to the pancreas—and that insulin’s primary purpose in the brain is to form memories at synapses.
Researchers believe that brain insulin is thought to result in the formation of protein plaque, which in the case of diabetes type 3, leads to memory loss and problems forming memories.
A new product (CinGx) may stimulate an insulin receptor protein, which can assist in the treatment of type 3 diabetes, AD, and dementia. Insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase treatment for type 3 diabetes might represent a new opportunity for long-term safe prevention of AD. However, much research has yet to be done.
“After rosiglitazone and other failures, there are no metabolic treatments in sight for AD that are effective and/or do not have serious side effects. Therefore insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase treatment for Type 3 diabetes might represent a new opportunity for long-term safe prevention of AD,” said Dr. Marcus Cantillon, chair of the 4th Center for Business Intelligence Annual Alzheimer’s Drug Development Summit.
