New findings have revealed that the memory-losing disease, Alzheimer's, is actually a form of diabetes. Northwestern University scientists have discovered that the toxic protein "amyloid ß-derived diffusible ligand" - or ADDL - takes away the insulin receptors from the nerve cells, thereby making them insulin resistant.

Hampering insulin and its receptors to the brain results to memory loss as the two are key components in memory formation. Now having determined that Alzheimer's may be caused in part by this insulin resistance, thanks to the attack of ADDL, the next question to confront then would be how this attack is triggered.

Weinberg College's William L. Klein, leader of the research, explains:

We think this is a major factor in the memory deficiencies caused by ADDLs in Alzheimer's brains. We're dealing with a fundamental new connection between two fields, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, and the implication is for therapeutics. We want to find ways to make those insulin receptors themselves resistant to the impact of ADDLs. And that might not be so difficult.