Canada (Commonwealth Union) – Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common non-communicable neurodegenerative diseases across the world. AD is usually diagnosed with the analysis of the patient’s background, such as memory and judgement, together with physical and radiological analysis.
In recent years research from across the world has shed light on new proteins and other insights that may bring about better treatments for the conditions faced by AD patients.
AD is linked with a lowering of insulin receptors in brain microvessels, which may be a part of brain insulin resistance and the creation of amyloid plaques, a key feature of AD. This is according to a study that appeared in scientific journal Brain by researchers from Laval University and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
The study that brought about the discovery was headed by Frédéric Calon, a professor from the Faculty of Pharmacy and scientist at the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods and the CHU de Québec–Université Laval Research Centre. The findings indicated that insulin receptors are mainly found in blood microvessels, not neurons, as earlier assumed.
They also saw that Alpha-B insulin receptor subunits were less widespread in the microvessels of people with Alzheimer’s. Cognitive test scores were less in subjects with lower alpha-B insulin receptors in their microvessels. Subjects with less alpha-B insulin receptors in their microvessels had elevated beta-amyloid plaques in their brains.
Studies conducted by the researchers on transgenic mice applied to study Alzheimer’s disease demonstrated that the quantity of alpha-B receptors in microvessels lessened with age and disease progression. Professor Calon explained: “Our findings suggest that the loss of alpha-B insulin receptors in brain microvessels contributes to insulin resistance in the brain and cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease.”
These results back the idea that AD is a neurodegenerative with a strong metabolic part.
