Alzheimer's risk linked to level of appetite hormone

[FarCenter]

High levels of a hormone that controls appetite appear to be linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, US research suggests.

The 12-year-study of 200 volunteers found those with the lowest levels of leptin were more likely to develop the disease than those with the highest.

The JAMA study builds on work that links low leptin levels to the brain plaques found in Alzheimer's patients.

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Research on mice - conducted to establish why obese patients with diabetes often have long-term memory problems - found those who received doses of leptin were far more adept at negotiating their way through a maze.

The latest research, carried out at Boston University Medical Center, involved regular brain scans on 198 older volunteers over a 12-year period.

A quarter of those with the lowest levels of leptin went on to develop Alzheimer's disease, compared with 6% of those with the highest levels.
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Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "Previous studies have shown that obesity in mid-life is associated with an increased risk of dementia, but this new research suggests that leptin might have a role to play.

"There is evidence that leptin has functions in the brain - further studies in this area could lead to the possibility that this hormone plays a role in new treatments for Alzheimer's."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8414989.stm

[theoldman]

1. I have visited a home for alzheimer patients and very few are obese.

Most of the people are very old and obese people generally don't live long.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

2. What this suggests to me is

obese volunteers eat a larger portion of a substance that could in and of itself lead to memory loss.
An average weight volunteer that limits their food and drink intake is less likely to ingest the variety
and amounts ingested by the obese. There were suggestions a while ago that those that consume
large amounts of liquid from cans had a higher incidence of Alzheimers. Once again the obese are
more likely to be drinking soda, beer etc. from cans.

[BadgerKid]

3. Nice hint at possible leptin therapy for humans.

Leptin usually comes up in discussions about dieting. IIRC, whereas leptin injections will help mice lose bodyfat, it doesn't work the same in people.