Mad Cow Disease May Affect Type 1 Diabetes

Filed in archive Research on December 16, 2006

Research is constantly uncovering fascinating new tidbits. Now, researchers think that a protein found in 'mad cow disease' may have an effect on diabetes.

Ottawa researchers have found a protein that causes Creutzfeld-Jakob disease might play a part in regulating blood sugar and could possibly affect the development of juvenile (Type 1) diabetes.

It's not that there's any direct link between Creutzfeld-Jakob _ a brain-wasting disease _ and blood sugar, says the team from the Ottawa Health Research Institute. The brain disease comes from a twisted, deformed protein, while the new discovery about blood sugar shows that same protein strictly in its healthy form.

But the lab group says its work on the protein known mainly for damaging the brain helps shine light on a mystery: How does the body regulate blood sugar, and what can make this crucial system break down?

Definitely interesting.