1. DIABETES MELITUS, HYPERTENSION AND PARKINSON DISEASE IN A COMMON THREE LEAF CLOVER NEURODEGENERATIVE PATHWAY Grigorios G. Dimas 1, Charikleia T. Sachinidou 1, Zanina G. Rantev 1, Ilias E. Kanellos 1, Georgios Balanikas 2, Thomas J. Tegos 3, Spiros D. Fotiadis 1, Alexandra N. Tranta 1, Ioannis M. Karamouzis 1, Alexandros Alexandridis 2, Christos G Savopoulos 1, Apostolos I Hatzitolios 1 1 1 st Propaedeutic Medical Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece 2 1 ST OPTHALMOLOGY DEPARTMENT, AHEPA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI, GREECE 3 1ST NEUROLOGY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, AHEPA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI, GREECE

2. Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common metabolic disease worldwide. The largest percentage of those patients, especially over 65 years suffer from hypertension (HT). Insulin and dopamine act interdependently, especially in the elderly, concerning Parkinson disease (PD). In animal models, hypo-insulinemia induced by streptozocin decreases the levels of dopamine transporter and hydroxylase of tyrosine in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra. Several factors have been implicated concerning the coexistence of these diseases.

3. Aim The aim of the present study was to correlate those three diseases in patients who were examined in our patient clinic during the last two years.

4. Methods 445 patients with DM type 2 were included. 180 of them were over 75 years old. The percentage of HT and PD was investigated in those patients.

5. Results The results show that 303 (68%) patients of the whole suffered from HT and 71 (15.9%) patients from PD. The results were more pronounced in the patient group over 75years old and in 180 octogenarians diabetic patients, 142 (78.88%) suffered from HT and 48 (26.66%) suffered from PD.

6. Conclusion This study suggests a clear impact on aging diabetic population of HT and PD.