Latest news with #TyG
UPI
6 hours ago
- Health
- UPI
Blood test may predict rapid brain decline in Alzheimer's patients
A common blood test can flag early Alzheimer's disease patients who are four times more likely to experience rapid brain decline, a new study says. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News A common blood test can flag early Alzheimer's disease patients who are four times more likely to experience rapid brain decline, a new study says. The test -- the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index -- assesses a person's level of insulin resistance and can estimate their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. But the test also can help determine which people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's might experience a faster decline in brain function, researchers reported at the European Academy of Neurology's annual meeting. "Once mild cognitive impairment is diagnosed, families always ask how fast it will progress," lead investigator Dr. Bianca Gumina, a neurology resident at the University of Brescia's Brain Health Center in Italy, said in a news release. "Our data show that a simple metabolic marker available in every hospital laboratory can help identify more vulnerable subjects who may be suitable candidates for targeted therapy or specific intervention strategies," she added. Insulin resistance has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer's, but its role in how quickly the disease progresses has received less attention, researchers said in background notes. For the study, researchers reviewed medical records for 315 non-diabetic patients in cognitive decline, including 200 with confirmed Alzheimer's disease. All underwent the TyG index blood test and were followed for three years. The third of Alzheimer's patients with the highest levels of insulin resistance had a quadrupled risk of faster cognitive decline, when compared to those with the least insulin resistance, results show. "We were surprised to see the effect only in the Alzheimer's spectrum and not in other neurodegenerative diseases," Gumina noted. "It suggests a disease-specific vulnerability to metabolic stress during the prodromal window, when interventions may still change the trajectory." Insulin resistance is believed to advance Alzheimer's by impeding blood sugar uptake to neurons, promoting accumulation of toxic beta amyloid proteins, disrupting the blood-brain barrier and fueling inflammation, researchers said. This study found that high TyG-assessed insulin resistance was indeed associated with disruption to the blood-brain barrier, researchers said. However, insulin resistance did not appear to interact with a person's genetic risk for Alzheimer's, indicating that these are separate risk factors that might operate independently. Researchers now are investigating whether TyG levels track with imaging scans of Alzheimer's, as combining the two could aid earlier detection. "If targeting metabolism can delay progression, we will have a readily modifiable target that works alongside emerging disease-modifying drugs," Gumina said. She presented her findings Monday at the EAN meeting in Helsinki. Findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. More information The University of Washington has more on insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
THIS common condition may speed up Alzheimer's disease: Experts recommend a simple blood test to determine it
A recent study presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025 reveals that a blood test could predict rapid cognitive decline in early Alzheimer's patients. Researchers at the University of Brescia found insulin resistance, measured by the TyG index, significantly accelerates the disease's progression. Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common type of dementia, is on the rise. About 57 million people had dementia worldwide in 2021, and the numbers are escalating. This progressive neurodegenerative disorder affects the quality of life, even impacting daily activities, and hence, early diagnosis is crucial. Researchers have now found that a simple blood test may soon help doctors predict which patients with early Alzheimer's disease are most at risk of rapid cognitive decline. They also found that a common condition related to metabolic disorders could dramatically accelerate the disease. The research was led by neurologists at the University of Brescia in Italy and was presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025. Common condition linked to accelerated Alzheimer's disease The common condition in question is insulin resistance . The researchers looked at the records of 315 non-diabetic patients with cognitive deficits, including 200 with biologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease. All participants underwent a TyG index assessment and were followed clinically over three years. The researchers found that the patients in the highest third of the TyG index within the Mild Cognitive Impairment-AD subgroup declined significantly faster than those with lower readings, losing more than 2.5 points per year on the widely used Mini-Mental State Examination. The ratio for rapid progression was 4.08 (95% CI 1.06–15.73), which is a fourfold increase in risk. 'Once mild cognitive impairment is diagnosed, families always ask how fast it will progress. Our data show that a simple metabolic marker available in every hospital laboratory can help identify more vulnerable subjects who may be suitable candidates for targeted therapy or specific intervention strategies,' lead investigator Dr Bianca Gumina said in a statement. Impact of insulin resistance on Alzheimer's disease Though previous research has shown the association between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease , its role in how quickly the condition progresses has not been much explored. This recent study looked into insulin resistance's impact during the prodromal mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage, when patients follow highly variable trajectories. What is insulin resistance Insulin resistance is a condition where the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps glucose (sugar) enter cells for energy. To compensate, the pancreas produces more insulin, but over time, this can lead to elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and other serious health conditions. The study The researchers used the TyG index, a simple and affordable way to measure insulin resistance, to see if metabolic problems could help predict how quickly cognitive decline happens after diagnosis. 'We were surprised to see the effect only in the Alzheimer's spectrum and not in other neurodegenerative diseases. It suggests a disease-specific vulnerability to metabolic stress during the prodromal window, when interventions may still change the trajectory', Dr Gumina added. Salman Khan Drops Health Bombshell on National TV The researchers at the University of Brescia, led by Professor Padovani and Professor Pilotto, found that high TyG was also associated with blood–brain barrier disruption and cardiovascular risk factors. However, it showed no interaction with the APOE ε4 genotype, and hinted that metabolic and genetic risks may act through distinct pathways. 'If targeting metabolism can delay progression, we will have a readily modifiable target that works alongside emerging disease-modifying drugs', Dr Gumina concluded. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
