Written by E. Parsons BSN, RN
If your loved one is like mine, they could LIVE off of Reese’s peanut butter cups, ice cream, and coffee creamer. Cravings for sugary foods are a hallmark symptom of dementia because as the disease progresses, other taste receptors in the brain do not function as well as sweet taste receptors. This leads to a preference for sweet, sugary foods that produce a pleasure response in the brain. Researchers have long studied the connection between insulin abnormalities in the brain and their ability to impact cognition. Although there are many risk factors for the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s, one major risk factor may play an important role for the expression of cognitive symptoms.
You guessed it! Diabetes is a major risk factor for developing dementia and researchers are beginning to understand the role insulin plays in cognition. “Researchers from Kyushu University in Japan found that even when other risk factors of dementia such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking were taken into the account; the risks of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's from diabetes was still extremely high” (International, 2011). The researchers think that diabetes can be a contributing factor because of the body’s inability to break down proteins which can lead to plaque formations in the brain. People with dementia tend to have lower insulin levels in their brains, regardless of whether they also have diabetes or not. This led researchers to create studies around how insulin levels affect cognition.
So, if high blood sugar causes the formation of plaques and reduces oxygenation, could insulin treatment help? Researchers think yes! One study by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs studied 104 patients who were either given a placebo or 20 IU of intranasal insulin daily. After four months of treatment, patients who were given a low or moderate dose of intranasal insulin showed significant improvement in memory and cognition (2011). One genetic factor, however, played a role in the effectiveness of insulin treatment.
Has your loved one been tested for the APOE4 gene? The APOE4 gene is a genetic marker for the development of Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that about 25% of people with the gene will develop the disease by age 85 (Oleksiw, 2019). Interestingly, a systematic review of available literature found that those with the APOE4 gene were not as positively affected by the insulin treatment as those without the APOE4 gene (Avgerinos, et al., 2018). So, if your loved one has this gene, intranasal insulin may not be an effective treatment option.
This is why it may be important to try to control blood sugar levels at home, naturally, even if your loved one does not have the APOE4 gene. One way that you can help keep your loved one’s blood sugar at optimal levels is through diet and exercise. Offer foods that your loved one has enjoyed in the past that are healthy and low in carbohydrates like fresh fruit or vegetables. Finger foods can also be great for those with dementia due to their portability and simplicity, and can be made into healthy, low carb options with some creativity.
We sisters find this to be very interesting and are considering asking our Mom’s physician about the possibility of trying this out for her. How amazing would it be to see improvement in her cognition from such an easy treatment? However, she already is losing weight even though she eats all day, and the worry is that this may make that worse. Check back for an update on this post later to see what happens with our Mom and this potential treatment. We have lots more questions around this and will share with you as we get the answers!
Would you try intranasal insulin to improve your loved one’s symptoms of dementia? What are your favorite low-carb, healthy finger foods that your loved one enjoys?
References
Oleksiw, B. (2019) What are the early signs of Alzheimer’s and am I at risk? The Jackson Laboratory. https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/2019/december/will-i-get-alzheimers
Avgerinos, K. I., Kalaitzidis, G., Malli, A., Kalaitzoglou, D., Myserlis, P. G., & Lioutas, V.-A. (2018). Intranasal insulin in Alzheimer’s dementia or mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review. Journal of Neurology, 265(7), 1497. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-018-8768-0
International Business Times. (2011). Diabetes Raises the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: Study. International Business Times.
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