Diabetes and Progression of Alzheimer's: Linking the Two Epidemics

Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that Diabetes and Alzheimers the epidemic of modern world share several pathophysiological mechanisms. Insulin is not just a peripheral hormone but has a significant role in signalling pathways regulating several processes. Altered insulin levels in case of diabetes accelerate the rate of aging like symptoms and affects cognition. AD is nowadays referred to as type 3 diabetes as loss in insulin activity affects synapse plasticity by reducing neurotransmitter concentrations. Diabetic patients are at an increased risk of developing AD. This review provides a brief outline on some of the putative links such as mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress and the resulting inflammation, formation of amyloid peptides and advanced glycation end products and altered insulin signalling. The molecular basis of the intersecting segments of the two diseases is still underway of research. Currently the anti- diabetic therapies have opened up a new area of pharmacotherapy for treatment of AD.