Yet again, researchers are moving ahead when it comes to their knowledge of one of the most devastating diseases that someone can be diagnosed with: Alzheimer’s disease. This time, the advance comes from a look at Type 2 Diabetes and cholesterol levels.
Believe it or not, Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 Diabetes have many similarities. This type of diabetes occurs when insulin stops being efficient at removing glucose from the bloodstream. Something very similar happens with Alzheimer’s, but instead of focusing on the blood, it occurs within the brain. High blood sugar levels, like what is seen with diabetes, can cause an imbalance in cholesterol levels, resulting in a need for treatment here, too.
That’s why a researcher from the University of Arizona Health Sciences recently undertook a project identifying common compounds in action with both Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s. What they found was that when cholesterol levels rise, the body begins to transport cholesterol to the liver, with the help of a protein called APOE. APOE is also known to be one of the major risk factors when it comes to developing Alzheimer’s disease. This team believes that focusing on this connection may help improve brain health, and might even be a key toward helping to reduce someone’s chances of developing this common type of dementia. Hopefully, they are correct.
Unfortunately, there is still no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease at this time. However, even though researchers have not yet found a cure, they are consistently moving toward one as they learn more about the disease, its causes, and how its spread can be slowed. It is promising that this is happening. Ideally, this advanced research will continue to compound over time and allow researchers to one day put an end to this terrible disease.
The team published their results in the journal, EBioMedicine.
Alzheimer’s affects about 5.5 million people in the United States. If your loved one is one of these people, then odds are, you are looking for a professional that can help ensure that your loved one is safe and receiving the high quality of care that they need to stay healthy. Senior care isn’t one size fits all, and when something like Alzheimer’s disease is an issue, the caregiver’s skill really comes into play. Memory care is a different type of senior care. The person receiving help has different needs that should be taken into account. If this doesn’t happen, the individual may not be receiving the safe, high quality of care that they need to thrive.
Your family deserves better than this. That’s why we make every effort that we can to give your family only the very best caregivers when we send an in-home caregiver out into the field. We train each of our caregivers thoroughly before they head out into the field, and ensure that their skillset matches the needs of the family that they will be working with. The goal is to help your loved one right where they are. By training our loved ones to administer memory care in the home, your loved one can get the professional help they need, without moving into an unfamiliar setting. This can be beneficial for the entire family–and help your loved one get the most out of this tough time.
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