Insulin resistance test can determine the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s has been a big problem for aged persons. Data shows that it grows with age, and it increases after age 65. About one in 20 people of 65 to 74 years suffer from Alzheimer’s. Again, it is one in three for those 85 years or older. The researchers found that about 69 million people around the world are living with Alzheimer’s disease or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

There is at present no tool for predicting how quickly the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease will progress. But a new study reportedly has identified a simple blood test used to measure insulin resistance that may also help doctors determine which people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease are most likely to experience rapid cognitive decline.

What is the new observation?
The new study by the Neurology unit in the Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences at the University of Brescia in Italy, observes that higher insulin resistance indicates quicker deterioration in cognitive decline. The result of the research was reportedly presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025.

Research methodology
The researchers analysed the medical records from 315 adults with an average age of 70 who did not have diabetes. Two hundred of the study participants had received biological confirmation that they had Alzheimer’s disease. Then all the participants received an insulin resistance assessment using a test called the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index. They were kept under observation with a clinical follow-up for three years. Why was TyG done? The Index is a validated marker of insulin resistance. This condition is seen in prediabetes and fasting blood syndrome.

Observation of the research
It was observed that higher TyG index results predict quicker cognitive decline. The researchers found that those in the highest TyG index group experienced a quicker deterioration in cognitive decline than those with lower TyG index. Bianca Gumina, a senior member of the research team, was quoted as saying in Medical News Today, an online health magazine, “…Patients in this early phase with high TyG levels had fourfold increased risk of rapid cognitive decline compared to those with lower TyG levels.

Regarding the affordability of patients, Gumina also reportedly told, “The TyG index is a low-cost, widely available tool that could be easily integrated into routine clinical practice to flag patients at higher risk of rapid decline”. So, by early detection of the patients, doctors could prioritize them for closer monitoring, lifestyle interventions, or even enrollment in clinical trials.