Global View on Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes Mellitus: Threats, Risks and Treatment Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes Mellitus

摘要

The incidence of both diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasing and is becoming asocial and economic threat worldwide. Recent research studies indicate that both diseases share somepathophysiological features and that specifically, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor ofAlzheimer’s disease. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between diabetes mellitus andAD, explore the efficacy of selected drugs on patients with diabetes and AD, and compare the relativerisk of diabetes for Alzheimer’s disease within different clinical studies. The method of literature searchin several acknowledged databases such as Web of Science, Elsevier Science Direct, PubMed and Scopusin the period from 2000 to 2015 for the following keywords: “Alzheimer’s AND disease AND diabetesAND mellitus” was used. The identified studies were divided into two basic groups, based on theirfocus: efficacy of the selected drugs on patients suffering from AD and diabetes, and a link between diabetesand AD; as diabetes is seen as a risk factor of AD. The findings of this study confirm that there is aclose and direct link between diabetes and AD, which indicates that there is a need for early diagnosis ofmetabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and T2DM. In fact, the reviewed clinical trials have proved anincrease in the risk of AD. However, the values of this risk are relatively low. The results also illustratethat both pharmacological (e.g., the antidiabetic drugs together with insulin dosing) and nonpharmacological(e.g., being intensively engaged in physical activities) treatments can have a positiveeffect. The results of this study confirm that diabetes and AD are not independent disorders since theyshare some common pathophysiological mechanisms. In addition, more clinical randomized control trialsare needed to explore the efficacy of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches tothe treatment of T2DM and AD.