DIABETES DRUG MAY BE KEY TO FIGHTING DEMENTIA
A DIABETES drug could be used to combat the development of dementia, a study has revealed.
Researchers said a single injection reduced the build-up of toxic proteins in the brains of sufferers as well as boosting memory.
They said the drug could also be used in a blood test to detect the disease. This would move “markers” for dementia from the brain into the bloodstream where they could then be spotted.
Pieces of the toxic protein, betaamyloid, clump together and destroy neurons.
Excitement
Pramlintide, which mimics the hormone amylin, increases blood flow to the brain and helps to clear away the protein, researchers said.
Professor Wendy Qiu, of Boston University School of Medicine in the US, said: “A single injection of pramlintide into our patients was well tolerated and reduced the amyloid burden, as well as lowered the concentrations of amyloid-beta peptides – a major component of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain.”
In the UK about 850,000 people are living with dementia, which is the leading cause of death in the country. Cases are rising rapidly as the population ages.
Excitement is growing that scientists are getting closer to developing a drug that combats dementia, rather than just treating the symptoms.
Prof Qiu confirmed her team were also hopeful pramlintide could be used as a blood test for Alzheimer’s.
She said: “If established, the test would be simple and specific and could be easily performed in a doctor’s office to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.”
In the study, 50 people were recruited from the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center.
Alzheimer’s Research UK has called for larger pramlintide trials.
Dr Laura Phipps, from the charity, said: “This very small study suggests the diabetes drug pramlintide could influence levels of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s and advance efforts to detect Alzheimer’s earlier.
“The potential for this diabetes drug to improve ongoing efforts to develop a blood test for Alzheimer’s will now need to be explored more thoroughly in larger groups of people.”