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(Or could be that on diabetics epidemiology metformin is used on less out of control diabetics)
Can You Delay Alzheimer Disease with Drugs for Diabetes?
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2018/11/08/can-you-delay-alzheimer-disease-with-drugs-for-diabetes/
People with Alzheimer’s disease have distinctive lesions within their brains. Individuals with diabetes also have pathological changes resembling those seen in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. People with this type of dementia appear to have impaired brain insulin metabolism. Could drugs for diabetes help ward off
Alzheimer’s disease?
Using Drugs for Diabetes Against Dementia:
Studies of human brain tissue after death offer interesting insight on gene expression related to Alzheimer’s disease (PLOS One, Nov. 1, 2018). Treatment with diabetes medicines like insulin and metformin mute these changes. People who took such medicines before they died seem to have fewer pathological changes in gene expression. Such alterations are normally seen with this kind of dementia.
More than a decade ago, we interviewed Dr. Allen Roses, then VP of Genetics at GlaxoSmithKline. At that time, Dr. Roses was excited about the possibility that a compound similar to pioglitazone or other drugs for diabetes would prove helpful in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, he died before that research could bear fruit.
The current research suggests that he may have been looking in a promising direction, however. Drugs for diabetes may not only be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes, but might also help those susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease.
Epidemiology Suggests That Metformin Might Delay Dementia:
Five years ago, researchers reported at the annual conference of the Alzheimer’s Association (AAIC, July 15, 2013) that they had found a link between treatment with metformin and a reduced risk of dementia.
The investigators tracked nearly 15,000 patients with type 2 diabetes who started treatment between 1999 and 2001. The subjects had taken one of four possible drug types: metformin, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones (including pioglitazone) or insulin.
Normally, type 2 diabetes itself increases the risk for dementia. But five years after starting on metformin, patients had reduced their likelihood of developing cognitive decline by at least 20% compared to patients taking other diabetes drugs.
In contrast, the other medications, including insulin, were linked to an increased risk of dementia compared to metformin. This epidemiologic study may lead to clinical trials that should better assess the true benefit of metformin against dementia.
Can You Delay Alzheimer Disease with Drugs for Diabetes?
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2018/11/08/can-you-delay-alzheimer-disease-with-drugs-for-diabetes/
People with Alzheimer’s disease have distinctive lesions within their brains. Individuals with diabetes also have pathological changes resembling those seen in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. People with this type of dementia appear to have impaired brain insulin metabolism. Could drugs for diabetes help ward off
Alzheimer’s disease?
Using Drugs for Diabetes Against Dementia:
Studies of human brain tissue after death offer interesting insight on gene expression related to Alzheimer’s disease (PLOS One, Nov. 1, 2018). Treatment with diabetes medicines like insulin and metformin mute these changes. People who took such medicines before they died seem to have fewer pathological changes in gene expression. Such alterations are normally seen with this kind of dementia.
More than a decade ago, we interviewed Dr. Allen Roses, then VP of Genetics at GlaxoSmithKline. At that time, Dr. Roses was excited about the possibility that a compound similar to pioglitazone or other drugs for diabetes would prove helpful in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, he died before that research could bear fruit.
The current research suggests that he may have been looking in a promising direction, however. Drugs for diabetes may not only be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes, but might also help those susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease.
Epidemiology Suggests That Metformin Might Delay Dementia:
Five years ago, researchers reported at the annual conference of the Alzheimer’s Association (AAIC, July 15, 2013) that they had found a link between treatment with metformin and a reduced risk of dementia.
The investigators tracked nearly 15,000 patients with type 2 diabetes who started treatment between 1999 and 2001. The subjects had taken one of four possible drug types: metformin, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones (including pioglitazone) or insulin.
Normally, type 2 diabetes itself increases the risk for dementia. But five years after starting on metformin, patients had reduced their likelihood of developing cognitive decline by at least 20% compared to patients taking other diabetes drugs.
In contrast, the other medications, including insulin, were linked to an increased risk of dementia compared to metformin. This epidemiologic study may lead to clinical trials that should better assess the true benefit of metformin against dementia.
