A University of Bath-led research effort received £500,000 to develop an organ-on-chip device that replicates connections between the brain, gut, and pancreas. The GlucoBrain project is designed to allow researchers to track how signals move between the organs and uncover why diabetes may lead to changes in memory and cognition. Collaborators include investigators from the University of Oxford and Johns Hopkins. Their findings could pave the way for new treatments to improve the lives of millions of people affected by diabetes, dementia, or both, notes the team. Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease are two of the world’s most pressing health problems, especially in aging societies. While diabetes is widely known to affect the heart, kidneys, and eyes, growing evidence suggests it is also linked with problems in memory, learning, and brain function. However, the biological mechanisms behind this link remain poorly understood. “Our gut, pancreas, and brain are constantly communicating via a network of signals, helping us regulate hunger and blood sugar,” says Despina Moschou, PhD, project lead. “But we still don’t fully understand how these signals interact at a cellular level and why glucose levels are linked to cognitive decline. “By creating a connected system on a chip, we can study in real time how signals travel between organs, how diabetes may impair brain function, and how new drugs could help.” Most current knowledge on the link between diabetes and dementia comes from animal studies, simple cell cultures, and patient studies. While these are useful, they don’t fully and accurately…
