Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
09:38

Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

Published on: November 14, 2017

Efficacy of PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone in mild Alzheimer disease

Tomohiko Sato1, Haruo Hanyu, Kentaro Hirao

  • 1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. tomohiko@tokyo-med.ac.jp

Neurobiology of Aging
|November 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pioglitazone improved cognition and brain blood flow in patients with mild Alzheimer disease and diabetes. This PPAR-γ agonist may offer a new Alzheimer disease treatment strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder often co-occurring with type II diabetes mellitus.
  • The PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone is known for its effects on insulin sensitivity.
  • Investigating pioglitazone's impact on AD pathophysiology and cognitive function is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of pioglitazone on cognitive function in patients with mild AD and type II diabetes.
  • To assess the impact of pioglitazone on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and plasma amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels.
  • To determine pioglitazone's effect on insulin sensitivity in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • A 6-month, randomized, open-controlled trial involving 42 patients with mild AD and type II diabetes.
  • Patients were assigned to receive either pioglitazone (15-30 mg daily) or no treatment (control group).
  • Cognitive function, rCBF, plasma Aβ40/Aβ42 levels, and insulin sensitivity were measured.

Main Results:

  • The pioglitazone group showed significant improvements in cognition and parietal lobe rCBF compared to the control group.
  • Plasma Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio increased in the control group but remained stable in the pioglitazone group.
  • Pioglitazone treatment enhanced insulin sensitivity, evidenced by decreased fasting plasma insulin levels, and maintained diabetes control.

Conclusions:

  • Pioglitazone demonstrated potential for cognitive and functional improvement in diabetic patients with mild Alzheimer disease.
  • The drug appeared to stabilize disease progression and improve cerebral blood flow.
  • Pioglitazone represents a promising novel therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer disease, particularly in patients with comorbid diabetes.

Related Concept Videos

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment01:22

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones01:26

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones

Biguanides, particularly metformin (Glucophage), are insulin sensitizers that enhance glucose uptake, thereby reducing insulin resistance. Unlike sulfonylureas, metformin doesn't prompt insulin secretion, which helps to curb hypoglycemia risk. Metformin is beneficial in treating conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome due to its insulin-resistance reduction capability. The drug's primary action involves curtailing hepatic gluconeogenesis, a significant contributor to high blood glucose levels...
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a significant...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment01:24

Parkinson's Disease: Treatment

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...