Alzheimer′s Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Risk Factors and Effectiveness of Antidiabetic Agents in Treatment of Alzheimer′s Disease

Abstract

The aim of this review is to highlight the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and cognitive impairment/Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and provide an updated summary of the evidence related to various potentially modifiable risk factors such as hyperinsulinaemia,insulin resistance,hypo-and hyperglycaemia, vascular risk factors like hypertension and obesity, micro and macrovascular complications, depression in AD.Treating modifiable risk factors can reduce the prevalence of AD.In addition we provide the information about potential benefits of antidiabetic agents for slowing of cognitive decline and AD in patients with type2 DM. There were studies demonstrating the novel effects of antidiabetic agents on neuronal functions by increased insulin signaling in an AD brain with a neuroprotective and neurotrophic effect. In this regard insulin, metformin and thiazolidinediones (in particular, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone ) would have potential protective effect for the development of AD.