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While many of us are familiar with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, you may not have come across the term type 3 diabetes. It is important to note that this should not be confused with type 3c diabetes, which is a completely different entity. However, it is associated with insulin resistance in the brain.
A diagnosis of insulin resistance usually indicates that a person is either pre-diabetic or has type 2 diabetes. However, researchers have suggested that it may also result in a lack of glucose in the brain's neurons, which is necessary for them to function properly, and this may cause symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Although type 3 diabetes is not officially recognized as a disease, in 2008, Dr. Suzanne de la Monte and Dr. Jack Wands of Brown University proposed calling Alzheimer's disease “type 3 diabetes” because of its close association with insulin resistance in a paper published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. Insulin resistance may be an underlying cause of dementia, as a deficiency in glucose metabolism in the brain contributes to symptoms such as memory loss, judgment, and cognitive decline.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MEDICALLY REVIEWED
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MEDICALLY REVIEWED by Dr. Rebecca Breslow, physician, researcher and writer.
Dr. Rebecca Breslow is a physician, researcher, and author. She graduated from Yale University and completed her medical training at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Children's Hospital Boston. She practiced medicine in academic settings for 17 years and has written numerous publications for both professional and general audiences. She currently focuses on freelance medical writing and editing to make health and wellness information accessible to a wider audience.
What is type 3 diabetes?
Type 3 diabetes is not a medical term and is not used by doctors to diagnose it. However, insulin resistance and decreased insulin signaling in the brain may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is significantly higher among people with type 2 diabetes. Thus, the term “type 3 diabetes” has been used informally by some experts in the field to illustrate these links. A study published in the Lancet Journal of Neurology links diabetes to brain deterioration and suggests that treatments that restore cerebral insulin function may be therapeutic for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. William H. Frey
Sourse: www.livescience.com
