Diabetes drugs may be useful for Alzheimer's, mice research finds

Conclusion Both Alzheimer's disease and diabetes seem to have become more common in recent years, causing illness and putting strain on the health service. News that the two illnesses may have a common cause raises hopes that drugs which help with one disease may also be of use in treating another. Trials of a diabetes drug on people with Alzheimer's disease are reported to be underway, although no results have been published yet. This study, suggesting a mechanism which may be involved in the early stages of both diseases, may increase the likelihood that common treatments will be useful. The study's main limitation is that it was carried out on mice, and studies in animals do not always translate directly to people. It's important to realise the study was not looking at ways to cure either diabetes or Alzheimer's disease, but only at an enzyme which may be implicated in the development of both. We don't know exactly what effect it has on humans, or how many people with raised levels of BACE1 get diabetes or Alzheimer's. Studies like these, carried out on laboratory animals, can play an important role in helping us discover more about diseases and their causes. But we won't know whether this insight will help to find a treatment for Alzheimer's disease until there have been human trials. If you had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, then sticking to your recommended treatment plan, in terms of diet and medication, should help reduce your Alzheimer's risk. Read more about ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology Mental health Diabetes Source Type: news