The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7256 p8
5 July 2003

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Related websites
Neurology abstract (more)

Dementia linked with insulin

Insulin may contribute to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, new data suggest.

American researchers administered insulin or placebo to 16 adults (mean age 68.7 years) and found that insulin raised the level of beta-amyloid protein in cerebrospinal fluid. Insulin infusion improved memory performance but this effect was attenuated in older subjects and in those who had the greatest increase in beta-amyloid protein levels.

Further study is needed to determine whether insulin is affecting the release or clearance of beta-amyloid protein, say the researchers (Neurology 2003;60:1899).