Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Diabetes Drug Could Help Treat Alzheimer's Disease | |
|
| |
People with Alzheimer's disease may benefit from diabetes drug, say scientists. Scientists at the University of Ulster found the drug could help protect damaged brain cells and may even promote the growth of new ones, the Daily Express reported.
Type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's and it is thought that impaired insulin signalling in the brain could damage nerve cells and contribute to the disease.
In trials, the scientists used the experimental drug (Val8)GLP-1 that simulates the activity of a protein called GLP-1 - it helps the body control its response to blood sugar.
Healthy mice were treated with the drug and its effects in the brain were studied.
The researchers found it promoted new brain cells to grow in the hippocampus, an area involved in memory.
But blocking the effect of GLP-1 in the brain made mice perform more poorly on learning and memory tasks, while boosting it with the drug seemed to have no effect on behaviour. There were also no side effects.
(Val8)GLP-1 works in a similar way to two existing drugs, Byetta and Victoza, used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
The results raises the possibility Alzheimer's sufferers may also be prescribed the drugs to stave off symptoms, like memory loss.
"This could have huge implications for diseases where brain cells are lost," the paper quoted study leader Professor Christian Holscher as saying.
Source-ANI
| |
|
|
More News on: Diabetic Retinopathy, Drug Toxicity, Diabetes, Diabetic Diet, Diabetes - Essentials, Diabetes - Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG), Insulin Delivery Devices, Diabetes and Exercise, Signature Drug Toxicity, Stress Relief Through Alternative Medicine
 Comment & Contribute
|
Related Links
Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimers disease is a common form of dementia affecting areas of the brain, which control memory and ...
Quiz on Diabetes Medications
How much do you know about the medications used to treat diabetes? Here are a few questions you could attempt to test your ...
Caring for Alzheimers disease patients
Alzheimer's disease is a complex brain disorder that triggers the most common form of dementia. The slide show will show how patients need support ...
Medicines Meant to Treat Alzheimers Found to be Good for Victims of Dementia
Cholinesterase inhibitors, that help victims of Alzheimer's disease can also assist in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of ...
Drug Related News
EU Agency Says Acne Pill Benefits Outweigh Blood Clot Risk
The benefits of acne drug Diane-35, also widely used as a contraceptive, outweigh the risk of developing blood clots in the veins, said Europe's ...
Reduce Ambien's Dose to Avoid Drowsy Driving
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now given the nod for new, lower-dose labeling for the popular sleep drug Ambien (zolpidem) with a view to ...
Statins Cut Exercise Benefits
Simvastatin a type of statin was found to hinder the positive effects of exercise for obese and overweight adults. Statins, the ...
New Drug Enhances Radiation Treatment for Brain Cancer
A novel drug may significantly help increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy for the most deadly form of brain cancer, say scientists at ...
Experts Issue Warning Against Online Sexual Enhancement Pills
Health experts have warned people against purchasing sexual enhancement pills from stores or from the internet as they often are a dangerous ...
Powerful Painkiller Discovered in Canadian Black Market
A Can$3 million (US$3 million) drug stash was found by Montreal police that included their first ever black market discovery of a synthetic drug that ...
Medwonders Health Network
- Health News Index
 | Quiz on Diabetes Are you at risk for diabetes? To find out check out our health quiz. 
|
- News Quick Links
 |
Diabetes
Complete Medindia Resources
|
| News Categories: |
| » | Mediterranean Diet Boosts Ageing Brain Power |
| » | Eating Disorders on the Rise |
| » | 24 Karat Gold Tea Introduced |
| » | Go for the White Veggies as Much as You Go for the Colorful Ones |
| » | Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate Revealed |
| More Diet News | |
|
Ask an Expert
