Metabolic syndrome and diabetes are associated with an increased incidence of dementia. Based on our previous work on memory impairment in diabetes models, and published evidence pointing at a close link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (e.g. De Felice et al., Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; Duarte, Biochem Soc Trans 2023), we hypothesize that the severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD) group is at a higher risk of developing neurological disorders with cognitive impairment. Other neurodegenerative diseases have also been reported to share molecular mechanisms with diabetes.
The overall purpose of this project is to determine whether any of the diabetes subtypes reported previously by Ahlqvist et al. (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2018) has a particularly high incidence of dementia. We will work on data available from ANDIS (All New Diabetics In Scania), which is a large diabetes cohort started in 2008, with the purpose of studying diabetes heterogeneity. This project will contribute to the introduction of precision medicine in diabetes by understanding whether any of the diabetes subgroups has a specific risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders.
Applicants:
We welcome MSc students with an interest in bioinformatics and the interaction between metabolic and neurological diseases. Training/knowledge of programming (R or python) is desired. Recommended project length is 30-60 ECTS.
Supervisors:
Joao Duarte, Diabetes and Brain Function, BMC, Lund
Rashmi Prasad, Genetics and Diabetes, CRC, Malmö
Contact:
Joao Duarte, joao.duarte@med.lu.se