Hormone linked to prevention of over-eating may help reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease
Published 16 December 2009
High levels of the hormone leptin, which may help prevent over-eating, is linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s according to a new study published today (Wednesday, 16 December).
The research, which appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at brain scans from 198 older people after measuring their leptin levels. It found a quarter of those with the lowest levels of leptin developed Alzheimer's compared with six per cent of those with the highest levels.
Alzheimer's Society comment:Susanne Sorensen'This is an important study that provides exciting data suggesting a link between higher levels of leptin and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. Further investigation is now needed to understand this relationship. This could move us closer to understanding the causes of the disease and provide vital information for drug development.
'However dementia research is dramatically underfunded. There are currently 700,000 people in the UK living with dementia but the government spends eight times less on dementia research than cancer research. Only with the right investment can dementia be defeated.'
Head of Research
Alzheimer's Society
