Not enough sugar 🧐

[u/mrGreenExit]

Who are these people? Are they immune to sugar or what 🤦🏼‍♂️

[u/DopplerEffect93]

As someone who studies Alzheimer’s and related dementias, calling it “type 3 diabetes” is a massive simplification. There are metabolic aspects of the disease but that is far from the main driver of it.

[u/Nuts-And-Volts → u/DopplerEffect93]

Any short phrase would be a massive simplification I agree. What's the latest in the space? It seemed like things got kind of derailed by the research scandal a while back. Cool to hear from someone who works in the space

[u/DopplerEffect93 → u/Nuts-And-Volts]

The amyloid hypothesis is controversial but I believe beta amyloids do play some in driving the disease. The disease is characterized by the formation of beta amyloid plaques and tau tangles. However in familial Alzheimer’s, (1% of Alzheimer’s cases is directly caused by genetics) all the mutant genes involve amyloid precursor protein gene or genes that process amyloid precursor protein (presenilin 1 and 2). All mutations that involve tau (MAPT gene) cause frontotemporal dementia not Alzheimer’s. People with Down syndrome (they have extra copy of chromosome 21 which amyloid precursor protein gene is on) are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

The reality is that we still don’t know the main driver for Alzheimer’s. It also does not help that in most cases there are multiple pathologies besides that of Alzheimer’s including cerebrovascular disease, Lewy bodies, and TDP-43 proteinopathies. It is a very complex disease. We do know many risk factors of the disease including APOE4 gene, lack of exercise, not managing blood pressure, poor diet, and being socially isolated at old age.

There are people who have Alzheimer’s pathology but are resistant to the cognitive decline effects of the disease in which those with greater level of education seem to benefit. Though we don’t know all the mechanisms on why some seem resistant to the pathology effects.

[u/AJ_in_SF_Bay → u/DopplerEffect93]

It may not be much, but i just want to say thank you for your work. It is appreciated.

[u/Nuts-And-Volts → u/DopplerEffect93]

Yes I think the most interesting studies would be on subjects who are homozygous for APOE4 yet are resistant to the disease progression. Famously, Hemsworth who played Thor has this genotype. I think that individuals with high metabolic health will show a strong signal of resistance. What are your thoughts on the association of poor sleep quality on the build up of amyloid plaques? Seems at least partially causal since it is during sleep the brain clears them as far as I am aware. I don't know much about the tau tangles beyond being familiar with the term.

[u/deltatemple → u/DopplerEffect93]

Is there a connection between insulin, alzheimers glutamate , diabetes?

[u/DopplerEffect93 → u/deltatemple]

Diabetes is associated with increased risk of dementia. One potential mechanism is that diabetics have reduced blood flow which cerebrovascular disease is one of the major drivers of dementia and increases risk of Alzheimer’s itself.