Many studies through the years have shown a link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Lately, there have been studies that have pointed to intra-nasal insulin as a way to bring back some cognitive functioning for those with Alzheimer’s disease. This treatment is still in the study stage, but since the drug is an approved way to deliver insulin to diabetics, the leap to using it “off label,” for Alzheimer’s treatment, isn’t too huge.

In ABC TV Alzheimer’s Series Riveting, I write about an Alzheimer’s series hosted by Maria Shriver. By clicking on the links in the article, or on The Shriver Report, you can read more about intra-nasal insulin.

Now there’s more good news about diabetes drugs and Alzheimer’s disease. In the article Scientist’s eureka moment that found a ‘cure’ for Alzheimer’s, on HeraldScottland.com, a report that “Scientists at Dundee University have discovered that anti-diabetes drugs can be used to fight Alzheimer’s disease, after a researcher had a flash of inspiration during her commute.”

Professor Susan Schweiger realized that, “ Patients with diabetes have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Metformin, which is used to treat type II diabetes, works by activating an enzyme that can prevent the death of brain cells.”

Metformin was tested in mice and now a full clinical trial is underway to see if this drug, already in use, can prevent more cell death in patients who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The research team says, “We would envisage this being used after an early-stage diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. We are not expecting to revive cells that are already dead, but to protect those not yet damaged by the progression of Alzheimer’s.”

Naturally, there is a long way to go before doctors are prescribing Metformin to patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. This is not like drugs that are used to help people on the verge of death, where the risk of adverse effects is less of an issue. Studies will want to confirm that Metformin has limited side effects and is effective with a significant number of people.

However, since Metformin has been in use for humans for the purpose of insulin control, if the studies prove that the drug will help those with Alzheimer’s prevent more cognitive damage, the drug should be available without much of a wait.

This study supports, once again, the idea that early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is very important. The goal would be to prevent as much cell loss as possible, so the earlier the drug is started, should it work the way the researchers hope, the better the results will be.

A paper on this study has been published in a recent edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA.

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