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Neurologists discover new way to predict Alzheimer's decline
Research indicates that a simple blood test, the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, could identify Alzheimer's patients at a high risk of cognitive decline.
Neurologists at the University of Brescia in Italy found that non-diabetic Alzheimer's patients with mild cognitive impairment and high TyG scores experienced cognitive decline four times faster.
The TyG index, a readily available marker for insulin resistance, showed this link specifically in Alzheimer's patients, not in those with other neurodegenerative conditions.
It is believed that insulin resistance impairs glucose uptake in the brain, contributing to inflammation and amyloid build-up, both linked to Alzheimer's progression.
These findings could lead to earlier identification of high-risk Alzheimer's patients, allowing for more targeted clinical trials and interventions to improve insulin sensitivity.