From the Research
Type 3 diabetes is a condition where insulin resistance occurs in the brain, potentially contributing to the development of Alzheimer's disease, and management approaches overlap with Type 2 diabetes prevention, including lifestyle interventions to maintain brain insulin sensitivity and reduce Alzheimer's risk. This concept emerged from research showing that insulin plays crucial roles in brain function, including memory and cognition, as discussed in a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2020 1. The brain insulin resistance can lead to impaired glucose metabolism in brain cells, formation of amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Some key points to consider include:
- Risk factors for Type 3 diabetes include poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and genetic predisposition, as highlighted in a study published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology in 2008 2.
- While not officially recognized as a distinct medical diagnosis in standard classification systems, the term "Type 3 diabetes" highlights the metabolic component of Alzheimer's disease, as discussed in a study published in Panminerva Medica in 2020 3.
- Lifestyle interventions, such as regular physical activity, Mediterranean or MIND diet, maintaining healthy weight, adequate sleep, stress management, and cognitive stimulation, may help maintain brain insulin sensitivity and potentially reduce Alzheimer's risk, as suggested in a study published in European Neuropsychopharmacology in 2014 4.
- The concept of Type 3 diabetes is also supported by a study published in Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry in 2017, which provides an overview of "brain diabetes" and its implications for Alzheimer's disease 5.