Very close genetic correlation as

LOCAL medical researcher Professor Hylton Mc Farlane says there is a “very powerful genetic link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.”

“My professional experiences in both my clinical medical practice, as well as my international research have both confirmed the very close genetic correlations between these two very frequent diseases,” he said in a paper submitted to Sunday Newsday.

Dr McFarlane further explained: “When one of your parents is diabetic, then there is an 80 to 98 percent genetic chance that every one of their children and grand children will also develop it sooner or later.

“The same genetic correlation applies to Alzheimer’s disease, especially if and when food abuse and lack of daily physical exercise continue.”

When asked for a comment on Dr McFarlane’s finding, an official of the Trinidad and Tobago Alzheimer’s Association said there is a possible link between the two diseases but there is no concrete evidence on the matter.

However, Dr McFarlane’s view was endorsed by Parbatee Siewdass vice president of the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago, who said the group’s research has shown that diabetics have a 65 percent increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to non- diabetics. Siewdass also pointed out that 44 percent of diabetics had diminished perception skills, when compared with healthier patients.

“The rationale behind this rate is that a certain amount of insulin is produced in the brain and while further research is still being done on this, insulin is recognised as a growth factor necessary for the survival of brain cells,” Siewdass explained. Citing a case from his clinical practice, Professor McFarlane pointed out: “One of my very regular patients complained, saying, ‘Our mother and her mother, our grandmother, were diabetics and all our mother’s children are diabetics. Our mother developed Alzheimer’s disease during her last year. So too did her mother, as well as several of our older brothers and sisters.’”

He said the patient concluded that she and her siblings’ children and grand children were all at “a serious inheritance risks of developing diabetes”.

He recommended changes in diet and lifestyle for persons at risk of developing the disease.

“I must add that very regular fasting certainly prevents the synthesis of those very Abnormal Beta Amyloid Fibrils which are responsible for the entanglement of the neurons of the brain, subsequently giving rise to forgetfulness, followed by Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.

On the latter issue, Siewdass, said fasting was a good idea only for non-diabetic patients as it would do more harm than good to diabetics who should eat regularly.

Siewdass also revealed that one in eight persons in this country has diabetes and the number may be double because many people are not aware that they have the early stages of the disease.

She said as of August 2005, more than 400 children were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and there are now cases of of Type 2, or “adult” diabetes being found in children.

The situation is made worse, said Professor McFarlane, because many medical doctors are not educated about the genetic inheritances of diabetes and Alzheimer’s, or the link between those diseases and unhealthy eating habits. “Constant food abuse causes both diabetes and Alzheimer’s sooner or later, especially the frequent consumption by everyone of those man made fast foods and those packaged and tinned foods,” he said.

Professor McFarlane advises that people educate themselves about the two diseases by reading up on the latest medical research.

“Within recent years, there are enormous amounts of very important information about both diabetes and Alzheimer’s diseases in several of those most outstanding British and USA Medical Journals as well as on the Internet.

“I am also recommending that USA-published excellent book ‘Preventing Alzheimer’s’ by Dr William Rodman Shankle, MD and Daniel G Amen, MD, which is very informative about all aspects of Alzheimer’s disease prevention and treatment.

“In addition, one must emphasize that several British and American Medical Monthly Journals, as well as the Scientific American Journal are also publishing information monthly about several aspects of diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.”

McFarlane’s advice to the general public on how to combat developing these two diseases is simple.

“All diabetics must be taught about food abuse prevention and daily physical exercise. Every school teacher should be officially instructed and trained in all aspects of diabetes . . .and one of the best prevention methods for Alzheimer’s is the avoidance of food abuse.

“Consume only fresh fruits, fresh fish and fresh, green vegetables everyday. Also, practice physical exercise for at least two hours every day of your life.”