A study from Rhode Island Hospital published in the September issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease has found that obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus can contribute to mild neurodegeneration with features similar to, but less severe than, Alzheimer’s.
In the study, using animal models, lead researcher Dr. Suzanne de la Monte used chronically high-fat diets to cause a twofold increase in mean body weight. She found this resulted in a marginally reduced mean brain weight and a significantly reduced mean brain weight/body weight ratio, providing evidence that obesity with T2DM is sufficient to cause mild global atrophy in the brain.
“In essence, the brain shrinks and several biochemical and molecular abnormalities found in patients with [Alzheimer’s], including brain insulin resistance, develop with chronic obesity and T2DM,” de la Monte said in a news release. “However, the extent of the abnormalities in no way matches [Alzheimer’s].”
The abnormalities were mild, the study found, but the associated brain insulin resistance could serve as a co-factor in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s. Overall, the study found that the effects of obesity and T2DM can essentially aggravate or contribute to the severity or progression of Alzheimer’s, but cannot be the sole cause of the condition.
“We don’t know yet if these effects of T2DM/obesity are reversible with weight loss,” de la Monte said. “However, we’re fairly sure that the abnormalities are related to the T2DM that accompanies obesity and not just increased weight.”
The full study is available at www.j-alz.com.
Founded in 1863, Rhode Island Hospital is the largest teaching hospital of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, a major trauma center for southeastern New England and a major research institution, with awards of nearly $27 million per year from the National Institutes of Health. It is a founding member of the Lifespan health system. For more information, go to www.rhodeislandhospital.org.
