Researchers suggest that insulin delivered via nasal spray can be used to improve memory in Alzheimer's disease patients.
Suzanne Craft, professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, who is also the lead author of the study, suggests that nasal insulin spray can potentially be used for improving mental capabilities in adults suffering from slight cognitive impairment or from Alzheimer's disease, a specific form of dementia.
The study involved 60 adult participants who were diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia (AD) or amnesic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The participants were given insulin detemir, which is human insulin analog, a manufactured form of the hormone.
The researchers found that participants who received 40 international unit (IU) doses of insulin detemir via nasal spray for 21 days displayed improvement in processing and retaining short-term visual and verbal information in comparison with people who got 20 IU doses or a placebo.
"Additionally, the recipients of 40 IU doses carrying the APOE-e4 gene -- which is known to increase the risk for Alzheimer's -- recorded significantly higher memory scores than those who received the loser dosage or placebo, while noncarriers across all three groups posted significantly lower scores," per the press release of the study.
Previous studies have indicated the use of nasal insulin spray brings signs of memory improvement in adults suffering with Alzheimer's dementia and amnesic mild cognitive impairment. However, the latest study used insulin detemir, the effects of which last for a longer time in comparison with "regular" insulin.
The study also found that nasal insulin sprays did not cause any major side-effects in the participants.
The researchers suggest that the study is important as it provides preliminary evidence of insulin detemir's effectiveness on Alzheimer's-related dementia and amnesic mild cognitive impairment patients. However, further research is needed so that proper treatment approaches are used for diagnosing patients.
Alzheimer's is a deadly disease can affect the lives of patients as well as their families. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that in 2013 about 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common cause of dementia, causing as many as 50 percent to 70 percent of all dementia cases. The figure of those living with Amzheimer's is estimated to reach 14 million by 2050.
The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease usually start after age 60 years with slight memory loss. However, the symptoms may increase when the patients grow older. Alzheimer's disease rarely affects young people.
