You might be more familiar with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes. However, a medical condition known as type 3 diabetes has been linked to Alzheimer's. How does type 3 diabetes differ from other types of diabetes, and what is its relationship to Alzheimer's? Check out the following review.
What is type 3 diabetes?
Type 3 diabetes is not a medically recognized or diagnostic term. The term "type 3 diabetes" refers to the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease is caused by insulin resistance and insulin-like hormone growth factor dysfunction that occurs exclusively in the brain.
Researchers use the term type 3 diabetes to describe both type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. However, the classification of type 3 diabetes is controversial and not accepted by health organizations or the American Diabetes Association.
In addition to type 3, there is type 3c diabetes, which is caused by pancreatic damage. Despite its similar name, type 3c diabetes is a distinct condition.
Relations between Alzheimer's and diabetes
It is widely assumed that brain tissue is not related to insulin. However, a number of studies have found that the brain's response to insulin influences the brain's metabolic processes as well as how the brain signals the limbs to perform their functions.
According to Healthline, researchers discovered a connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. According to some researchers, Alzheimer's disease can be caused by insulin resistance in the brain.
Diabetic conditions, particularly those that are poorly controlled, can result in an imbalance of compounds in the brain, which contributes to Alzheimer's. High blood sugar levels also cause inflammation, which can damage brain cells, resulting in diabetes.
Vascular dementia is a separate diagnosis with its own set of symptoms, but it can also be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are still working to understand the link between Alzheimer's disease, its causes, and its relationship to diabetes.
Symptoms of type 3 diabetes
According to Medical News Today, because type 3 diabetes is not a diagnostic term, its symptoms cannot be medically classified.Type 3 diabetes symptoms may include early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as:
- Memory loss that negatively impacts daily life
- Difficulty solving problems or making plans
- Difficulty carrying out daily tasks
- Confusion about location or time
- Difficulty using and understanding written and spoken language
- Misplacing things
- Withdrawing from social or work activities
- Changes in mood and personality
Some symptoms are similar to signs of aging, so they are frequently overlooked. If you suspect that the changes described above in the elderly are symptoms of Alzheimer's, you should consult a doctor.
The term type 3 diabetes is neither a medical term nor a diagnostic term. There is currently no treatment for type 3 diabetes or Alzheimer's disease. The treatment provided by the doctor aims to slow down the progression of symptoms that appear. Some treatments that can be given include the administration of drugs to prevent cognitive decline.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr Nadia Opmalina
Hobbs, H. (2023). Type 3 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease: What You Need to Know. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/type-3-diabetes
Richards, L. (2023). Type 3 diabetes explained. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/type-3-diabetes
Heerema, E. (2022). What Is Type 3 Diabetes?. Available from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/why-is-alzheimers-called-type-3-diabetes-98797
Salomon, S. (2021). Why Some Researchers Are Calling Alzheimer’s Disease a ‘Type 3 Diabetes’. Available from: https://www.everydayhealth.com/diabetes/alzheimers-disease-actually-type-diabetes/