"THE QUESTION Memory wanes as mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimers disease sets in. Might insulin a drug used for diabetes help    THIS STUDY randomly assigned  adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild to moderate Alzheimers disease to be given via nasal spray  or milligram doses of insulin detemir Levemir a manmade insulin that is longer acting than natural insulin or a placebo daily for three weeks.    Standardized tests given at the start and end of the study showed that working memory sometimes thought of as shortterm memory improved for those given  milligrams of insulin but not for those given the smaller dose or the placebo.    Also among those in the milligram group people carrying what is sometimes called the Alzheimers gene APOEe showed more improvement than noncarriers.    WHO MAY BE AFFECTED  People in the early stages of dementia. Some research has suggested a link between lower levels of insulin in cerebrospinal fluid and the formation of plaques often found in the brain tissue of people with Alzheimers.    Memory loss is often the first sign of dementia which in later stages can interfere with such things as the ability to solve problems control emotions or do such daily tasks as eating and dressing.    CAVEATS The study involved a relatively small number of participants and lasted a short time a larger and longer study would be needed to adequately test effectiveness and safety.    FIND THIS STUDY February issue of the Journal of Alzheimers Disease  For an early version of the study abstract click on Contents then Volume  No.  in press and search for insulin.    LEARN MORE ABOUT dementia at ninds.nih.govdisorders and     The research described in Quick Study comes from credible peerreviewed journals. Nonetheless conclusive evidence about a treatments effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind THE QUESTION Memory wanes as mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimers disease sets in. Might insulin a drug used for diabetes help THIS STUDY randomly assigned  adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild to moderate Alzheimers disease to be given via nasal spray  or milligram doses of insulin detemir Levemir a manmade insulin that is longer acting than natural insulin or a placebo daily for three weeks.  Standardized tests given at the start and end of the study showed that working memory sometimes thought of as shortterm memory improved for those given  milligrams of insulin but not for those given the smaller dose or the placebo.  Also among those in the milligram group people carrying what is sometimes called the Alzheimers gene APOEe showed more improvement than noncarriers. WHO MAY BE AFFECTED  People in the early stages of dementia. Some research has suggested a link between lower levels of insulin in cerebrospinal fluid and the formation of plaques often found in the brain tissue of people with Alzheimers.  Memory loss is often the first sign of dementia which in later stages can interfere with such things as the ability to solve problems control emotions or do such daily tasks as eating and dressing. CAVEATS The study involved a relatively small number of participants and lasted a short time a larger and longer study would be needed to adequately test effectiveness and safety. FIND THIS STUDY February issue of the Journal of Alzheimers Disease  http For an early version of the study abstract click on Contents then Volume  No.  in press and search for insulin. LEARN MORE ABOUT dementia at ninds.nih.govdisorders http and  http The research described in Quick Study comes from credible peerreviewed journals. Nonetheless conclusive evidence about a treatments effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician."