Mark Cartwright of Dallas Examines Link between Alzheimer's, Diabetes

October 16, 2012

The history of medicine is filled with happy accidents, instances of treatments or cures being discovered almost inadvertently. A recent medical report details one such happy accident. According to the report, a drug that was initially designed to treat diabetes has been discovered to be effective in fighting neurodegenerative diseases—and in fact, the drug may be more useful in the latter application than in the former. This surprising finding has earned the attention of Mark Cartwright, Dallas psychologist and mental healthcare professional.

The study notes that the application of a diabetes drug in the fight against conditions such as Alzheimer’s does not come completely out of the blue. Type II diabetes has long been known as a potential risk factor for Alzheimer’s, and in fact, some scientists have referred to Alzheimer’s as Type III diabetes. Some research has shown that the symptoms of Alzheimer’s are caused by impaired insulin reception in the brain, which in turn leads to the damage of certain brain cells.

Mark Cartwright of Dallas has issued a new statement to the press, in which he offers his own thoughts on a diabetes drug being used to combat Alzheimer’s. Cartwright says that, while this is not entirely unprecedented, it may still be seen as a breakthrough. “I first heard about this link between Alzheimer’s and Type II diabetes around a year ago,” shares Dr. Cartwright. “I have worked extensively with patients in nursing facilities, many of them suffering from both Type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.” He goes on to confirm some of the findings of the new report. “Diabetes is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s and in fact, Alzheimer’s has been termed Type III diabetes by some researchers. It is thought that impaired insulin signaling in the brain may damage nerve cells, contributing significantly to the disease process.”

Mark Cartwright of Dallas goes on to explain how potentially groundbreaking this new research could prove. “If we can target both diseases with one medication, this could have a prolific impact on medicine, and the lives and families of millions who are suffering from Alzheimer’s and from diabetes,” he explains.

The diabetes drug in question simulates the properties of a protein, and helps the body control its response to blood sugar...A psychologist in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area, Mark Cartwright specializes in school psychology. Mark Cartwright of Dallas attended the Ohio State University, where he earned his master's and doctorate degrees, and Ohio University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Mark Cartwright of Dallas completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Dallas Medical Center of the University of Texas Southwestern. For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/10/prweb10017116.htm