Alzheimer's linked to insulin enzyme.

• Position: Brain - Brief Article

Low levels of an enzyme that degrades insulin could increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in mice by doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. The discovery targets a new correlation linking diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's--an association that has not been understood, points out Bonnie Miller, assistant professor of internal medicine. "What's exciting is that this suggests a new mechanism that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease--the competition of multiple substrates, such as insulin and beta-amyloid, for a limiting amount of the insulysin enzyme."

The researchers studied mice that were missing insulysin gene activity. They found that the crucial enzyme, in addition to...