好色先生

好色先生

Explore the latest content from across our publications

Log In

Forgot Password?
Create New Account

Loading... please wait

Press Release

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, August 25, 2010

Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Plaques Associated with Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease

ST. PAUL, Minn. -

People with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes appear to be at an increased risk of developing plaques in the brain that are associated with , according to new research published in the August 25, 2010, issue of the medical journal of the . Insulin resistance, or the stage before diabetes, happens when insulin, a hormone in the body, becomes less effective in lowering blood sugar. 鈥淭ype 2 diabetes and Alzheimer鈥檚 disease are two epidemics growing at alarming levels around the world,鈥 said study author Kensuke Sasaki, MD, PhD, with Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. 鈥淲ith the rising obesity rates and the fact that obesity is related to the rise in type 2 diabetes, these results are very concerning.鈥 The study involved 135 people with an average age of 67 from Hisayama, Japan. The participants had several diabetes glucose tests to measure blood sugar levels. They were also monitored for symptoms of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease over the next 10 to 15 years. During that time, about 16 percent developed Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. After the participants died, researchers examined their autopsied brains for the physical signs of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, called plaques and tangles. While 16 percent had symptoms of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease while alive, a total of 65 percent had plaques. The study found that people who had abnormal results on three tests of blood sugar control had an increased risk of developing plaques. Plaques were found in 72 percent of people with insulin resistance and 62 percent of people with no indication of insulin resistance. However, the study did not find a link between diabetes factors and tangles in the brain. 鈥淔urther studies are needed to determine if insulin resistance is a cause of the development of these plaques,鈥 said Sasaki. 鈥淚t鈥檚 possible that by controlling or preventing diabetes, we might also be helping to prevent Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.鈥

Brain & Life logo

GET A DOSE OF BRAIN HEALTH

Dive into a wealth of information by visiting Brain & Life庐, where you can explore the freshest updates, tips, and neurologist expert perspectives on brain disease and preventive brain health.


The 好色先生, an association of more than 22,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as epilepsy, dystonia, migraine, Huntington鈥檚 disease, and dementia. For more information about the 好色先生, visit http://www.aan.com.

For More Information*

Email media@aan.com

*While content of the 好色先生 (AAN) press releases is developed by the AAN along with research authors and Neurology® editors, we are unable to provide medical advice to individuals. Please contact your health care provider for questions specific to your individual health history or care. For more resources, visit the AAN's patient and caregiver magazine website, .