Psychiatric care may
be improved by a new discovery made by scientists in the US.
Researchers at the Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, Human Nutrition Research Center
on Aging, Tufts University, Boston found that a hormone derived from visceral
fat could play a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease and all-cause dementia in women.
The doctors observed a relationship between insulin resistance and the
development of the mental condition and believe it could be the presence of a
hormone called adiponectin which is responsible.
Dr Thomas van Himbergen, who worked on the study, explained that insulin
signalling and dementia are linked and as a result, adiponectin should offer
additional protection against the onset of the disease.
"Our data, however, indicate that elevated adiponectin level was
associated with an increased risk of dementia and AD in women," he said.
It is estimated by Alzheimer's Research UK that there are currently 820,000
people living with dementia in Britain.
© Adfero Ltd
Dementia treatment news : 4 January 2012
