In recent research conducted with mice, scientists have uncovered crucial details at the molecular level explaining why individuals with diabetes might be at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
This study contributes to the expanding research connecting type 2 diabetes with Alzheimer’s, a relationship so strong that some researchers have begun referring to Alzheimer’s as “type 3 diabetes.”
The findings offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting that by effectively managing or preventing diabetes, it might be possible to lessen the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Narendra Kumar, an associate professor at Texas A&M University, led the groundbreaking study. Kumar believes there’s a significant link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
He posits that taking steps to prevent or mitigate diabetes could also prevent or slow down the progression of dementia symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.
Kumar shared these insights at the Discover BMB conference, a gathering organized by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
With diabetes and Alzheimer’s becoming increasingly common health issues globally, understanding their connection is more important than ever. Diabetes affects the body’s capability to convert food into energy, impacting an estimated 10% of U.S. adults. Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia, progressively impairs memory and thinking skills and is a leading cause of death in the U.S.
The researchers delved into how diet, a known factor in the development and severity of diabetes, could also influence Alzheimer’s development in those with diabetes.
They focused on a specific protein in the gut named Jak3 and discovered that a high-fat diet could suppress Jak3 expression. Mice lacking this protein exhibited a series of inflammation-related issues starting from the intestine, moving through the liver, and eventually affecting the brain.
The mice developed Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, including brain changes typically associated with the disease, such as increased beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau, alongside cognitive impairment.
Kumar emphasizes the liver’s central role in processing everything we consume, suggesting the inflammation pathway from gut to brain involves the liver. His lab has extensively studied Jak3, finding that dietary impacts on Jak3 expression can lead to leaky gut syndrome.
This condition then sparks chronic low-grade inflammation, diabetes, reduced brain capacity to eliminate toxins, and dementia symptoms akin to Alzheimer’s.
However, there’s a silver lining. Kumar’s research indicates that by adopting a healthy diet and controlling blood sugar early, it’s possible to halt this inflammatory process.
This approach is particularly beneficial for people with prediabetes, a condition affecting an estimated 98 million U.S. adults. By making lifestyle changes, individuals can potentially reverse prediabetes, halt the progression to type 2 diabetes, and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
This study not only sheds light on the complex interplay between diet, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s but also underscores the importance of healthy living in disease prevention.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that not all whole grain foods could benefit people with type 2 diabetes, and green tea could help reduce death risk in type 2 diabetes.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about unhealthy plant-based diets linked to metabolic syndrome, and results showing Mediterranean diet could help reduce the diabetes risk by one third.
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