Researchers May Have Discovered a Link Between Dementia and Diabetes

The results of a study published in the Archives of Neurology may from researchers at the University of Washington have found a potential link between the onset of dementia and diabetes. The scientists found that an increase of vascular disease, rather than Alzheimer's disease, may be the cause of dementia, and patients with diabetes have a higher association of vascular disease.

The scientists studied autopsy findings of various patients who were both treated and untreated for diabetes. According to the news article, "there were more microvascular infarcts" within the brain among patients with diabetes who were not receiving adequate treatment.
However, patients who were under-treated for their diabetes condition actually showed a difference in dementia levels from their diabetic-treated counterparts.

According to news reports, approximately 71 patients of the 196 whose autopsy reports were studied were found to have suffered from dementia, and nearly 59 patients also suffered from diabetes and received treatment for their disease. While researchers were unable to make a substantial link between the development of diabetes and the onset of dementia, the association between the status of diabetes and the level of dementia has been discovered to be much stronger than previous research.

Developing Dementia

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "dementia is a word for a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain and dementia is not actually considered a specific disease." Dementia is often associated with the following signs and symptoms:

* recent memory loss

* difficulty performing familiar tasks

* problems with language

* time and place disorientation

* poor judgement

* problems with abstract thinking

* misplacing things

* changes in mood

* personality changes

* loss of initiative

It is advisable for patients who may be suffering from dementia to speak with a medical professional as well as to include their family, friends or caretakers in making a decision based on the severity of their condition.

Diabetes Drug Dangers

While there are an array of prescription drugs for diabetes that are available to regulate glucose or insulin levels within the body as well as injectable forms of insulin, including Byetta, there are also several dangers commonly associated with the consumption of a variety of these drugs including Byetta.

In mid-2005, Byetta, also known as exenatide, became available for manufacture from Eli Lilly and Company and Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Byetta has been linked to several damaging side effects, which include the development of pancreatic conditions that could be deadly. The drug is an injectable form of medication used to treat non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetics.

According to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement, the drug was found to have allegedly caused pancreas inflammation among patients in October 2007. Then in August 2008, approximately six patients were hospitalized due to acute pancreatitis, sudden pancreatitis and inflammation. Of the six patients who were hospitalized, two were deemed fatal as a result of the Byetta-induced pancreatic conditions. Because of the Byetta dangers it may be necessary to contact a pharmaceutical attorney and obtain a free legal consultation on the details surrounding a Byetta class action lawsuit, which may earn a victim monetary compensation for the damages incurred.