Alzheimer’s drugs of use in Type 2?
Beta-secretase inhibition as a novel approach to treat Type 2 diabetes associated with obesity.
- Professor Mike Ashford of the University of Dundee
- £227,802; Three-year project grant
- October 2012 – October 2015
Background to project
The accumulation of body fat is thought to drive resistance to insulin which, coupled with reduced production of insulin by the islets of the pancreas, contributes to Type 2 diabetes. Drugs such as metformin and sulphonylureas can help control blood glucose in some people with Type 2 but not everyone responds well to such drugs and new medications to improve insulin sensitivity are needed.
The enzyme BACE1 is found everywhere in the body and at inappropriately high levels in the brain it is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Researchers at the University of Dundee have found that mice with lower than normal levels of BACE1 are more sensitive to insulin, maintain better control of blood glucose and are less likely to become obese than mice with normal BACE1 levels.
Project aims
Building on their previous studies, Prof Mike Ashford and his team will use experiments in mice to find out if drugs that inhibit BACE1 (which are now being developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease) can reverse or prevent Type 2 diabetes associated with obesity. They will also determine which tissues of the body contribute to improved insulin sensitivity in response to low levels of BACE1.
Potential benefit to people with diabetes
The findings of this study will help determine whether drugs that inhibit BACE1 can be used to improve insulin sensitivity and the management of blood glucose in mice with Type 2 diabetes. If they can, similar drugs could be developed for humans and could provide a useful alternative to current medications for people who have Type 2 and are obese.