Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have long been studied by medical experts and are known as the most common types of diabetes. However, research shows that there may be a third strain of diabetes, one that is particularly affecting certain groups. In general, diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cells do not respond properly to insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.
According to experts, patients with Alzheimer's disease may, actually, be experiencing a similar phenomenon, with some medical professionals referring to it as Type 3 diabetes. "The term 'Type 3 diabetes' reflects the idea that Alzheimer’s disease may involve a form of insulin resistance or impaired insulin signaling in the brain," Suzanne Craft, Ph.D., professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, told Newsweek. "This differs from Type 1 diabetes, in which an autoimmune process prevents the pancreas from producing sufficient insulin, and Type 2 diabetes, in which the body becomes resistant to insulin and has difficulty regulating glucose metabolism." According to the Alzheimer's Society, patients with the condition may become resistant to insulin as their brains change.
"Nerve cells in the brain may become resistant to the effect of insulin. This may lead to the build-up of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain," the society explains. Seemingly, this risk goes both ways, as diabetes has been suggested to put patients at a higher risk of developing dementia.
"Some of the strongest evidence comes from large, long-term observational studies showing that adults with Type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease," Craft told Newsweek. "There is also growing evidence that the risk begins before diabetes develops: people with prediabetes, insulin resistance and other forms of metabolic dysfunction also appear to be at increased risk." However, according to the Alzheimer's Society, "it is important to note that diabetes is only a risk factor and does not mean that a person with diabetes will go on to develop dementia." Type 3 diabetes is not a new notion. A 2017 Newsweek article identified Type 3c diabetes as one caused by various types of damage to the pancreas.
"Type 3c diabetes is caused by damage to the pancreas from inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), tumors of the pancreas, or pancreatic surgery," Newsweek reported at the time. "This type of damage to the pancreas not only impairs the organ's ability to produce insulin, but also to produce the proteins needed to digest food (digestive enzymes) and other hormones." The research noted that Type 3c diabetes was often misdiagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. However, this diagnosis is unrelated to the presentation of evidence for Type 3 diabetes relating to Alzheimer's disease.
As scientific interest in this phenomenon develops, medical experts advise on a number of ways to mitigate diabetes risk. "Regular physical activity is one of the most promising lifestyle interventions for reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia," Craft continues. "Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and controlling cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol are also important.
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