PPAR-gamma: bridging AD and type 2 diabetes?

Insulin resistance (IR) is a common state that is associated with aging, a sedentary life style as well as a genetic predisposition. IR plays a central role in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and is also strongly associated with other metabolic syndromes including obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemias. Two population based studies have reported an increased risk to develop dementia among patients suffering from T2DM, independent from vascular factors. Likewise, hyperglycemia, an initial and compensatory consequence of IR has been shown to be a risk factor for AD. However, the mechanisms by which hype…