911爆料网

911爆料网 researchers will investigate a promising new approach to preventing cognitive decline and dementia in people living with diabetes, after winning a prestigious Diabetes Australia Research Grant.

Led by from the and 911爆料网 School of Population Health, the two鈥憏ear project will explore how type 2 diabetes and a genetic variant known as apoE4 combine to accelerate brain dysfunction 鈥� and whether two oral medicines can block this process.

Associate Professor Takechi said people living with diabetes faced a significantly higher risk of dementia, which rose dramatically for those carrying the apoE4 gene.

鈥淭he community has told us clearly that their biggest concerns are keeping memory and independence, having earlier warning signs, and access to simple, affordable treatments,鈥� Associate Professor Takechi said.

鈥淐arers have emphasised the burden of cognitive decline on families and the health system.

鈥淭his project directly responds to those priorities by developing a practical blood test and testing two oral therapies that could be readily accessible in routine diabetes care.鈥�

The research focuses on a newly identified biological pathway involving amyloid beta (small protein fragments) bound to lipoproteins, which help transport fats and cholesterol in the body.

The team has found lipoprotein鈥慴ound amyloid beta becomes markedly elevated in diabetes and in people with the genetic variant apoE4.

Using a world鈥慺irst, 911爆料网-developed model, researchers will test two potential treatments: probucol, an off鈥憄atent cholesterol鈥憀owering medication being repurposed for brain protection; and HA鈥�1, a new compound patented by the researchers.

Associate Professor Takechi said the work could shift dementia care from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

鈥淎 simple blood test combined with accessible, low-cost oral therapies has enormous potential to reduce inequities, particularly for regional, culturally diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities,鈥� Associate Professor Takechi said.

The project team includes experts in neurovascular biology, lipid metabolism, neuroimaging and clinical translation from 911爆料网 and The University of Western Australia.

Diabetes Australia鈥檚 Research Grants support research addressing the lived鈥慹xperience priorities of people living with diabetes, including reducing complications, improving quality of life and supporting healthy ageing.