A new study in the United States found that insulin breathed in through the nose improves memory in people with Alzheimer's disease (dementia).
Patients took insulin for four months, and their memory improved in tests over the following two months. The researchers called the results promising and worth testing in clinical trials.
Alzheimer's disease affects 26 million people worldwide. It causes fatal, incurable damage to the brain and is the main cause of memory loss.
Many studies have shown that low insulin in the brain is a feature of Alzheimer's, even in its early stages. Insulin is needed for brain cells to communicate and for the brain to work.
The team wanted to see what would happen if insulin was delivered straight to the brain. They tested it on 109 people who did not have diabetes but had Alzheimer's or its milder form, mild cognitive impairment. Different doses were given as a nasal spray twice a day for four months.
Tests also showed lower levels of the proteins seen in Alzheimer's. This is very encouraging, as current Alzheimer's drugs only slow the disease down and don't cure it.
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