New research suggests insulin administered by spray directly through the nose might benefit Alzheimer’s patients (AD). This is according to a new short-term trial of intranasal insulin in AD patients and people with mild cognitive decline demonstrated improvement on memory and functioning tests. However, the ability to perform activities of daily living was unchanged.

The researchers believe that restoring normal insulin levels in the brain may represent a therapeutic approach to those with AD. Administration of the insulin through the nose reportedly enables access to those areas hit by the disease. Prior research has suggested a relationship between insulin resistance (the inability of insulin to transport glucose to the cells)

This study, presented at the recent Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on AD in Hawaii, followed 109 adults with either mild cognitive decline or early AD who were administered either placebo or 20 or 40 IU daily intranasal insulin treatments over four months. Results indicate the insulin taking group improved on cognitive and functional tests compared to the placebo group. Some of the improvements lasted two months after treatment ended.

The authors underscore the role of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and hypoglycemia as risk factors for AD and memory loss with aging. This represented the rationale for the study and potential therapy. Intranasal insulin is already approved for other uses and may now gain attention for use with AD.