Experts have confirmed there are biological links between dementia and high blood sugar.
Researchers at University of Bath compared brain samples of 30 people with and without Alzheimer’s disease and tested them for protein glycation,a modification caused by high glucose levels in the blood.[br]According to Express.co.uk, the team found that a specific enzyme was glycated in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and that glycation stopped the enzyme from working properly.
The enzyme, and known as ‘macrophage migration inhibitory factor’ or MIF,has been previously implicated in the inflammatory response that occurs in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Clare Walton, Research Manager at Alzheimers Society said: “We know that diabetes can double a person’s risk of developing dementia but we still don’t really understand how the two conditions are linked - this study offers a vital clue.[br]The researchers have found a specific effect of high blood glucose on an enzyme in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, or providing a plausible biological mechanism connecting the two conditions.
“With diabetes on the rise,a better understanding of how it affects brain cells can wait on us to find ways to wait on people with diabetes manage their risk of dementia.
Source: tert.am