Insulin Slows Progression Of Neurodegenerative Disease
Insulin regulates many aspects of brain function related to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, which can be delivered to the brain center via intranasal (IN) devices. Some small, single-site studies indicated that intranasal insulin can enhance memory in patients with MCI or dementia.
Nasal spray with insulin might treat people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, but it does not represent a cure.
Insulin and incretins are compounds with multiple effects on neurodegenerative disease.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce neuroinflammation, reduce tau phosphorylation, reduce amyloid deposition, increase synaptic function, and improve memory formation.
A nasal spray treatment is not a new discovery. It was not even meant to treat people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease but has been in use as an insulin nasal spray. But some ingenious researchers working at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC, after some test have claimed that it seems to be very effective in treating people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Though the researchers have used the nasal spray on a small population, they are encouraged by the results.
About 60 people suffering from either mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or who were in the early or moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease were chose for the study. Some were given 40 IU’s of the insulin determir, some 20 IU’s of insulin, and some were given a placebo. After receiving doses daily for 21 days, those who received the 40 IU’s of the insulin nasal spray showed “major improvement” in their ability to retain and remember new information.
Suzanne Craft, PhD while talking about the study says, “This study provides preliminary evidence that insulin detemir can provide effective treatment for people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s-related dementia.
Dr. Aggarwal, who is the Cognitive Neurologist at the Rush University Medical Center while talking about the findings says that when someone is impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, it is the result of certain parts of the brain not utilizing sugar properly. He says that this is the reason that the insulin spray may be of substantial help in treating Alzheimer’s disease, too. He says that it is more effective as it is administered directly to the brain.
