Diabetes and Alzheimer

Alzheimer: Type 3 diabetes?

A growing number of research associates Alzheimer's disease to type-2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases, three pathologies with common risk factors.Specifically, among people with diabetes Alzheimer's incidence doubles with respect to the normal population.Hence it begins to consider that this neurodegenerative pathology could be a diabetes of type-3.

It has been proven that the lack of insulin in the brain or its lower efficacy favors beta-amyloid protein deposits, involved in the development of Alzheimer's, in the brain of mouse models for this disease.And, in reverse, the amyloid protein tank makes neurons lose the insulin receptors they have on their surface.

In addition, physical exercise, capable of delaying the appearance of diabetes improving the response of insulin cells, also have a beneficial effect for the brain.On the one hand, according to studies with rodents, physical activity increases neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons).On the other, according to the latest studies, physical exercise seems to reduce amyloid deposits that contribute to neuronal death, favoring the formation of enzymes that eliminate beta-amyloid protein or that prevent their formation.

beneficial effects of omega-3

There are many properties attributed to Omega-3 acids.Among them, together with vitamin D3, to help eliminate the amyloid plates of the brain and reduce neuronal death, according to a study recently published in the ‘Journal of Alzheimer Disease‘.In fact, some neurologists already complement the medication of the people affected by this neurodegerative pathology with an extra contribution of Omega-3.

The low levels of omega-3 fatty acids correlate with a lower brain volume (which is associated with neuronal loss) and a worse performance in mental acuity test even in people who apparently do not have dementia, according to another study by the University of California.To establish this correlation, the researchers analyzed the Omega-3 levels in the red blood cells-a more reliable fact than asking about the diet-in more than 1,500 participants with an average age of 67 years.They also measured their brain volume by magnetic resonance, as well as the hyperintensity of the white substance, which indicates vascular damage and is related to hypertension, age and cognitive performance.

People with lower levels of Omega-3 had significantly lower brain volume and lower test scores to evaluate different types of memory and executive functions (such as planning and decision making).The conclusions of the study were that Omega-3 acids contribute to the reduction of vascular pathology and cerebral aging.

Metabolic controller

According to Professor José Ordovás, director of the Nutrition and Genetics Laboratory of the University of Tufts, in Boston (United States) and member of the National Cardiovascular Research Center (CNIC), the Omega-3 would act as a kind of “airbag” thatSoftens the accumulated errors in the genes and "erase" to some extent the effects of metabolic stress.An action that carried out influencing the genes that function as "general controllers" of others that regulate processes such as the absorption and use of energy or the metabolism of lipids.

The Mediterranean diet

A diet composed of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and with few saturated fats, meats and dairy products is, for the moment, the best way to preserve memory and intellectual skills, according to the widest study conducted to date,called Hardards (reasons for geographical differences andracial in Ictus, for its acronym in English).However, people who have diabetes do not benefit from the advantages for the brain of following a healthy diet such as Mediterranean.

Omega-3 fatty acids, present in fish, chicken and olive oil, have protective effects for the brain, something that was already suspected and now corroborates this research.On the contrary, red meats are less healthy, which are associated with the appearance of arteriosclerosis, and saturated fats, which predominate in animal products such as meat, dairy products without denatar and some vegetable oils, such as palm andcoconut, and contribute to increasing cholesterol levels.Regarding dairy products, some experts estimate that an excess in their consumption could be behind the childhood obesity epidemic.

The protective effect of "good" fatty acids provided by the Mediterranean diet, rich in the foods that contain it, when it is faithfully followed with 19% less likely to develop memory problems and cognitive deterioration, according to the study.However, in people who have already developed diabetes, the “brain” of Omega-3 is lost.Hence the importance of preventing this pathology from childhood through a balanced diet and exercise practice.

"Since there is no definitive treatment for diseases that produce dementia, modifiable activities, such as diet, which can delay the appearance of symptoms are very important," says Georgios TSIVGOULIS Member of the American Academy of Neurology.In the light of the study data, this expert clarifies that the diet is only one of the important lifestyle factors for the proper mental functioning as we age.And it emphasizes that exercise, avoiding obesity, not smoking and controlling diabetes and hypertension are also very important aspects to take care of.

To reach these conclusions, the researchers collected information on the feeding habits of 17,478 people of African -American and Caucasian origin, with an average age of 64 years aimed at checking if they adjusted to a Mediterranean diet.In addition, participants were tested to assess their memory and cognitive skills.The follow -up of the participants in the study was four years on average.17% percent of them had diabetes and 7% developed deterioration of memory or cognitive during the development of the study.