Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are two common age-related disorders, leading to considerable morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Recent studies reveal that patients suffering from T2DM often develop cognitive impairments and approximately 70% of those cases eventually develop AD. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In the current study, we identified the effect of formaldehyde on cognitive deficits in diabetes mellitus and the potential mechanism by conducting cell and animal experiments. Genetic manipulation to reduce formaldehyde significantly attenuates high glucose levels and alleviates cognitive impairment in diabetic mouse models. The results indicated the key role of formaldehyde in mediating diabetic-related cognitive impairment. Our study suggests that targeting formaldehyde may be an effective approach for preventing and treating dementia in the diabetics.