Scientists are finding more evidence that could link Type 2 diabetes with Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia. Several research studies following large groups over many years suggest that adults with Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.
Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and other types of dementia. This is because the same cardiovascular problems that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes also increase the risk dementia.
People in the study who developed type 2 diabetes before the age of 60 had three times the risk of dementia later in life compared with those who did not have type 2 diabetes before age 60, the study found.
Experts don't fully know why some people get the disease at a younger age than others do. Less commonly, young-onset Alzheimer's can result from mutations in one of three genes (APP, PSEN1 or PSEN2), which can potentially be passed on to other family members.
The causes probably include a combination of age-related changes in the brain, along with genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The importance of any one of these factors in increasing or decreasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease may differ from person to person.
Age is the single most significant factor. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease doubles every 5 years after you reach 65. But it's not just older people who are at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Around 1 in 20 people with the condition are under 65.
A: Yes. Studies have demonstrated that people who have diabetes, compared with people without diabetes, are more likely to develop cognitive problems. Older adults with diabetes have higher incidences of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia than those with normal glucose tolerance.
Comparatively, those who developed diabetes younger had a much greater risk for dementia later in life: a 53 percent chance risk of later developing dementia for those diagnosed with diabetes at age 65 and a 77 percent risk of at age 60.
In the same way that diabetes can cause nerve damage to your eyes, feet, and hands, it can also affect your brain by damaging nerves and blood vessels. This can lead to problems with memory and learning, mood shifts, weight gain, hormonal changes, and over time, other serious problems like Alzheimer's disease.
Memory loss in diabetes can be a short term problem brought on by too low or high blood glucose levels. During hypoglycemia, for example, you may struggle to remember words. This is not necessarily a sign of a long term problem. In most cases, raising sugar levels over 4 mmol/l should get your memory back to normal.
It May Cause Cognitive Decline
Consuming too much sugar can cause delayed cognitive performance and even memory difficulties. It also weakens and destroys the blood vessels, resulting in a decline in mental capacity which can lead to dementia and Alzheimer's.
Older Diabetes Medication Linked to Lower Dementia Risk. Pioglitazone cut dementia risk by more than half in people with type 2 diabetes who have a history of stroke, per a new study.
Inflammation and Blood Vessel Damage
And high blood sugar levels can trigger inflammation. None of that is good for your blood vessels. Damaged vessels in your brain could lead to Alzheimer's. Inflammation can also make your cells insulin resistant, especially if you're obese.
Our meta-analysis of 1.4 million patients provides strong evidence on the association between hypoglycemic events and dementia risk in diabetic patients. Our quantitative analysis demonstrated that patients with hypoglycemic episodes have a 44% increased risk of dementia as compared to those not experiencing the same.
Dementia vs. Alzheimer's Disease: What is the Difference? Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, while Alzheimer's is a specific disease. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia.
What is the link between dementia and diabetes? Most people with diabetes do not develop dementia, but they do have an increased risk. Population studies suggest people with type 2 diabetes, on average, have double the risk of developing dementia compared with people who do not have diabetes.
Among cognitively healthy APOE4 non-carriers, metformin treatment was associated with better memory over time, but this association was not observed among APOE4 carriers. But for people with Alzheimer's disease, metformin use was associated with a faster rate of memory decline in APOE4 carriers, but not non-carriers.
Two little-known but common effects of diabetes are irrational behavior and mental confusion. Diabetes impacts not only physical and mental health but behavioral health, too. The reasons for this are the hormone insulin and the levels of glucose, or sugar, in the bloodstream.
Several studies have highlighted a possible link between metformin use and a higher risk of developing dementia. Other studies have found the opposite: a lower risk of developing dementia in people using metformin.
Previous research from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research found that the use of metformin in people with type 2 diabetes was linked with slower cognitive decline and lower rates of dementia.
Although tight control of blood sugars has been proven to reduce the long-term risks of heart disease and strokes, tight control can also lead to hypoglycemia, memory loss, and dementia. Here, the reason is likely because low blood sugars are known to damage the hippocampus — the memory center of the brain.
For most people with Alzheimer's — those who have the late-onset variety — symptoms first appear in their mid-60s or later. When the disease develops before age 65, it's considered early-onset Alzheimer's, which can begin as early as a person's 30s, although this is rare.
Is Alzheimer's passed on by mother or father? Alzheimer's is not passed on by the mother more than the father, or vice versa. A mother or father may pass on an “Alzheimer's gene” or mutation that increases your risk. Even if both your parents pass on a risk gene, your Alzheimer's risk is higher, but not certain.