Lower insulin resistance seen in older patients with diabetes may be associated with classic Alzheimer’s brain changes, according to a new study.
Diabetes is a known risk factor for cognitive impairment. Researchers investigated a possible link between diabetes blood markers and beta-amyloid accumulation in the brains of 41 older people at risk of dementia. Patient data was taken from the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability, and participants received brain scans.
Results showed that participants with beta amyloid plaques had slightly better insulin homeostasis — or stability — than those without. The findings contrast with earlier studies which found no link between the two in the elderly. This may be due to the current study participants’ high risk of cognitive decline, Alina Solomon, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Eastern Finland said.
“The results could also suggest that in people with diabetes and vascular pathology, less amyloid accumulation in the brain may be needed to trigger the onset of Alzheimer’s dementia,” Solomon concluded.
Notably, no association was found for amyloid deposition with fasting glucose levels or HbA1c, a measure of blood sugar levels.
The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
