Curtin University researchers are leading a groundbreaking study to explore whether two simple oral medicines could help prevent dementia in people living with diabetes. The two-year project, funded by a prestigious Diabetes Australia Research Grant, aims to tackle one of the most pressing health challenges facing ageing populations.
The research, led by Associate Professor Ryu Takechi from the Curtin Medical Research Institute and the Curtin School of Population Health, will investigate how type 2 diabetes and a genetic variant known as apoE4 work together to accelerate brain dysfunction. The team will test whether two oral medicines can block this process and protect brain health.
Associate Professor Takechi said people with diabetes face a much higher risk of developing dementia, particularly those who carry the apoE4 gene.
“The community has told us clearly that their biggest concerns are keeping memory and independence, having earlier warning signs, and access to simple, affordable treatments,” he said. “Carers have also highlighted the heavy burden that cognitive decline places on families and the health system. This project directly responds to those priorities.”
The study will focus on a newly identified biological pathway involving amyloid beta — small protein fragments that, when bound to lipoproteins, can contribute to brain damage. The Curtin team has discovered that levels of lipoprotein-bound amyloid beta are significantly higher in people with diabetes and those carrying the apoE4 gene.
Using a world-first model developed at Curtin, researchers will test two potential treatments: probucol, an existing cholesterol-lowering drug being repurposed for brain protection, and HA-1, a new compound patented by the research team.
Associate Professor Takechi said the project could transform dementia care by shifting the focus from treatment to prevention.
“A simple blood test combined with accessible, low-cost oral therapies has enormous potential to reduce inequities, particularly for regional, culturally diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities,” he said.
The research team includes experts in neurovascular biology, lipid metabolism, neuroimaging and clinical translation from Curtin University and The University of Western Australia.
Diabetes Australia’s Research Grants support projects that address the lived experiences of people with diabetes, including reducing complications, improving quality of life and supporting healthy ageing.
