Possible link between Type 1 Diabetes and Alzheimer's
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A new study done by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies is the first to show a possible link between Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The team found two increases in amyloid beta (Abeta) and tau protein in the brains of diabetic mice. Increases in Abeta and tau protein is hallmark in Alzheimer's patients.
Abeta is a misfolded peptide that is suspect to be a cause of Alzheimer's disease. It is thought that that when Abeta's interact with astrocytes, the astrocytes release inflammatory molecules that can destroy neurons.
The senior author Pamela Maher states that the study shows an increase in vascular associated amyloid beta buildup in the brain, which causes expedited brain aging. Their data also suggests that changes in astrocytes and other pro-inflammatory processes along with the bonding of proteins with sugar molecules (non-enzymatic glycation), can also contribute. Chronic peripheral inflammation and increased sugar molecules are associated with diabetes and the alterations may cause the brain to change the astrocyte function, leading to Alzheimer's-like symptoms/changes.
In the study they introduced type 1 diabetes to two sets of mice. They studied the changes that occurred in both sets of mice. The difference in this study than in others like it is that the mice were not genetically engineered to produce high levels of human Abeta or tau proteins to allow for changes to occur more naturally to better model the effects of type 1 diabetes on the acceleration of Alzheimer's.
On a more personal note, I am extremely interested in developments Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus treatments and concerns. My mother has had Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus since she was 11 years old. From a young age I tried to learn as much as possible to understand what was going on inside my mother's body. Finding an article like this is kind of daunting for me. If there are follow up studies that show similar results as this one, this could add another complication to having diabetes to the already extensive list of possible complications.
A new study done by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies is the first to show a possible link between Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The team found two increases in amyloid beta (Abeta) and tau protein in the brains of diabetic mice. Increases in Abeta and tau protein is hallmark in Alzheimer's patients.
Abeta is a misfolded peptide that is suspect to be a cause of Alzheimer's disease. It is thought that that when Abeta's interact with astrocytes, the astrocytes release inflammatory molecules that can destroy neurons.
The senior author Pamela Maher states that the study shows an increase in vascular associated amyloid beta buildup in the brain, which causes expedited brain aging. Their data also suggests that changes in astrocytes and other pro-inflammatory processes along with the bonding of proteins with sugar molecules (non-enzymatic glycation), can also contribute. Chronic peripheral inflammation and increased sugar molecules are associated with diabetes and the alterations may cause the brain to change the astrocyte function, leading to Alzheimer's-like symptoms/changes.
In the study they introduced type 1 diabetes to two sets of mice. They studied the changes that occurred in both sets of mice. The difference in this study than in others like it is that the mice were not genetically engineered to produce high levels of human Abeta or tau proteins to allow for changes to occur more naturally to better model the effects of type 1 diabetes on the acceleration of Alzheimer's.
On a more personal note, I am extremely interested in developments Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus treatments and concerns. My mother has had Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus since she was 11 years old. From a young age I tried to learn as much as possible to understand what was going on inside my mother's body. Finding an article like this is kind of daunting for me. If there are follow up studies that show similar results as this one, this could add another complication to having diabetes to the already extensive list of possible complications.
posted by Unknown at 4:22 PM
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