An Indian-origin scientist has found that reducing the risk of dementia in Alzheimer’s is possible by keeping diabetes under control.
Narendra Kumar, an associate professor at Texas A&M University in the US, spearheaded a study featured in the ‘American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’ journal, uncovering a robust connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Implementing preventative or mitigative measures for diabetes could potentially stall or mitigate the advancement of dementia symptoms in Alzheimer’s,” he emphasized.
Diabetes and Alzheimer’s represent two burgeoning health challenges worldwide. Diabetes disrupts the body’s energy conversion from food and affects approximately one in ten US adults. Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s ranks among the top ten leading causes of death in the US, as highlighted in the research.
The team delved into how dietary patterns might influence Alzheimer’s progression in individuals with diabetes.
Their investigation unveiled that a high-fat diet diminishes the expression of Jak3, a specific protein in the gut. Mice lacking this protein showcased a cascade of inflammation from the intestines to the liver and brain. Consequently, these mice exhibited Alzheimer’s-like manifestations in the brain alongside cognitive decline.
The researchers propose that the route from the gut to the brain involves the liver. “As the primary metabolizer of our dietary intake, we hypothesize that the pathway from gut to brain involves the liver,” explained Kumar.
Their long-standing exploration of Jak3’s functions revealed that alterations in its expression due to dietary factors can lead to intestinal permeability, resulting in chronic inflammation, diabetes, diminished brain capacity to eliminate toxins, and dementia-like symptoms akin to Alzheimer’s disease.
