A team of researchers has found that certain aspects of some diabetes drugs also were able to treat some aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. This finding was recently published in the journal, Neurology, by a team from the Karolinska Institutet.
This research focuses on genetic variants of medications that already exist. Researchers have long understood that there is a close relationship between diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s has even been off-handedly referred to as Type 3 diabetes because of how similar they look in a biological sense.
By focusing on medications that are already known to help treat diabetes, researchers can speed up the drug development process. This is exactly what the Karolinska Institutet team did. By looking at medications known to treat diabetes, researchers have begun making small changes in how these medications impact genetic mechanisms so that the similar properties between diabetes and Alzheimer’s can be exploited with already existing medications. The goal is to find more effective Alzheimer’s drugs more quickly.
Researchers have found that some diabetes medications might have potential for treating Alzheimer’s, too.
And so far, researchers are making progress. They have found that genetic variants in the sulphonylurea genes are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Medications that target this gene might be able to diminish or even prevent some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. But even with this scientific understanding, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done in order for doctors to thoroughly comprehend how to treat each of these diseases effectively. However, this new line of research does appear to be quite promising. Hopefully, it leads to more research and a more effective treatment for those that are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Our loved ones deserve the very best when it comes to care and treatment. This might get us a step closer to that.
There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease at this point, even though researchers are making strides toward understanding how the disease works and how to treat and prevent it. Research like this is important not just because it helps to make life better for those that are suffering from dementia, but also because it helps move the scientific community a little bit closer to a cure. We might not be there yet, but there’s a chance we could be in the future.
In the meantime, helping those that are suffering from Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia is important. This is not an easy disease to deal with, both for those that are suffering and those that are close to them.
We’re here to help. Memory care is a large part of what we do. Finding a caregiver that is professionally trained to handle the intricacies and nuances can make a world of difference when it comes to helping the people that you love. Feel free to get in touch and we can talk more about how in-home care–or another type of senior care–might help you and your family to get the high quality care that is needed for your family to live the high quality of life that you all deserve.
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