A new study out of Japan found that people with diabetes had double the risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease. Their risk for dementia was also higher (1.74 times) than people without diabetes:Glucose Tolerance Status And Risk Of Dementia In The Community, The Hisayama Study, Neurology, September, 2011
Even among those without diabetes, those with a two-hour postprandial blood glucose over 7.8 mmol/L (142 mg/dl) had a significantly increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. (There was no association observed for fasting glucose.)
The study involved more than 1000 men and women over the age of 60 who were followed for approximately 11 years. An oral glucose tolerance test was administered to determine postprandial blood glucose.
The link between diabetes and dementia:
"Diabetes could contribute to dementia in several ways, which researchers are still sorting out. Insulin resistance, which causes high blood sugar and in some cases leads to type 2 diabetes, may interfere with the body’s ability to break down a protein (amyloid) that forms brain plaques that have been linked to Alzheimer’s. High blood sugar (glucose) also produces certain oxygen-containing molecules that can damage cells, in a process known as oxidative stress."
- Study: Diabetes Doubles Alzheimer’s Risk, Ann Harding for Health.com
