The mechanism of the effect of Alzheimer's disease on the systemic glucose metabolism

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16190
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54040:Metabolism and endocrinology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Asai Yoichiro 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (50754925)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 糖尿病 / アルツハイマー型認知症 / インスリン抵抗性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The effects of sporadic Alzheimer's disease on systemic glucose metabolism were investigated. The intra-cerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin(STZ) caused wild type mice cognitive dysfunction. The inflammation with the increase of microglia was observed in the areas of hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of STZ-icv mice. Furthermore, STZ-icv mice exhibited hyper-insulinemia and insulin resistance. The expression levels of insulin signal-related genes were different between the liver and the skeletal muscles.
These results suggest the possibility that Alzheimer's disease itself may bring systemic insulin resistance.

Free Research Field

代謝疾患学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、糖尿病やインスリン抵抗性がアルツハイマー型認知症の発症を促進する機序について数多くの研究が報告されている一方で、アルツハイマー型認知症自体が糖代謝に与える影響についての報告はほとんどない。本研究は、アルツハイマー型認知症が糖尿病・インスリン抵抗性を悪化させ、さらに認知症を促進させるという悪循環を来しうる可能性を示唆しており、認知症と糖代謝異常の進行を予防する為の基盤の知見となる事が考えられる。