Type 1 Diabetes Increases Dementia Risk
WASHINGTON, DC—Patients in late life with type 1 diabetes have an approximately 93% increased risk of dementia, compared with patients who do not have diabetes, according to data from a 12-year observational study described at the 2015 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. The risk appears similar to that for those with type 2 diabetes, said Rachel Whitmer, PhD, Senior Scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California. Prior studies had examined dementia risk for patients with type 2 diabetes, but researchers had not examined risk for patients with type 1 diabetes. Patients with type 1 diabetes are living longer, and understanding how cognition changes in those patients is important. “Even a small problem with your cognitive function could interfere with your ability to self-care,” Dr. Whitmer said. Older people with type 1 diabetes are different from those with type 2 diabetes in that they have a younger age of diabetes onset, continuous insulin treatment, more frequent severe hypoglycemic episodes, and fewer vascular risk factors, she said. To evaluate dementia risk in older people with type 1 diabetes, Dr. Whitmer and her research colleagues followed the health histories of 490,344 people in the Kaiser Permanente health system. The patients were older than 60 with no prior dementia. The investigators identified 334 patients with type 1 diabetes in that group, and 53 of those patients (16%) received diagnoses of dementia over 12 years. The researchers evaluated risk using a Cox proportional hazard model. Controlling for vascular risk factors (ie, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and hypertension) those with type 1 diabetes had a 73% increased risk, compared with those who did not have diabetes. When researchers incl Continue reading >>
Could Diabetes Trigger Dementia? People With Type 2 Suffer 'memory Loss And Declining Decision-making Skills'
People with type 2 diabetes lose brain power as their ability to regulate blood flow drops, research suggests. A study by experts at Harvard Medical School suggests that the impact can be seen in memory and cognition tests - with the decrease in thinking skills dropping over just two years. Some 3.5 million people in Britain are thought to have type two diabetes - an increase of 62 per cent in the last nine years. The dramatic increase in the disease, which now affects one in every 16 adults in the country, is linked to spiralling rates of obesity and lack of exercise. The US researchers tracked 40 people over two years, and found a significant decrease in cognitive power, which impacted their ability to cook and bathe themselves. Study leader Dr Vera Novak, whose work was published in the journal Neurology, said: ‘Normal blood flow regulation allows the brain to redistribute blood to areas of the brain that have increased activity while performing certain tasks. ‘People with type two diabetes have impaired blood flow regulation. ‘Our results suggest that diabetes and high blood sugar impose a chronic negative effect on cognitive and decision-making skills.’ The study involved 40 people with an average age of 66. Of those, 19 had type two diabetes and 21 did not have diabetes. At the beginning of the study the participants were tested for cognition and memory, given MRI scans to look at brain volume and blood flow, and blood tests to measure control of blood sugar and inflammation. After two years, they were tested again – and those with diabetes showed marked decreases in their ability to regulate blood flow in the brain. They also had lower scores on several tests of memory and thinking skills - and found it harder to carry out daily tasks such as bathing an Continue reading >>
How Alzheimer’s Could Be Type 2 Diabetes
The link between Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes continues to grow stronger. A new study presented at the Society for Neuroscience shows that the disease may actually be the late stages of type 2 diabetes. Learn more about how Alzheimer’s could be type 2 diabetes. The Correlation Between Alzheimer’s and Type 2 Diabetes A new study done by researchers at Albany University in New York, shows that Alzheimer’s may be the late stages of type 2 diabetes. People who have type 2 diabetes produce extra insulin. That insulin can get into the brain, disrupting brain chemistry and leading toxic proteins that poison brain cells to form. The protein that forms in both Alzheimer’s patients and people with type 2 diabetes is the same protein. Researcher Edward McNay at Albany University, said: “People who develop diabetes have to realize this is about more than controlling their weight or diet. It’s also the first step on the road to cognitive decline. At first they won’t be able to keep up with their kids playing games, but in 30 years’ time they may not even recognize them.” Alzheimer’s, Brain Tangles and Diabetes In the past few years, the connection between the two diseases has grown stronger with each relevant study. People who develop type 2 diabetes often experience a sharp decline in cognitive function and almost 70% of them ultimately develop Alzheimer’s. A recent study published in the journal Neurology found that people with type 2 diabetes were more likely to develop the brain “tangles” commonly see in people with Alzheimer’s disease. They found that participants with type 2 diabetes were more likely to have the brain tangles, even if they did not have dementia or memory loss. The study evaluated over 120 older adults with type 2 diabetes and Continue reading >>
Older People And Diabetes
Save for later Most areas of care in diabetes are relevant to all age groups but there are some specific changes due to growing older which might affect your diabetes. Food choices In some cases dietary advice for the older person with diabetes may differ from general recommendations. Older people in care homes are often more likely to be underweight than overweight and there is a high rate of undernutrition. It may not always be appropriate to reduce the fat, salt and sugar for every older person with diabetes. Poor or irregular eating can often be a cause of hypos. Poor oral health, effects of some drugs on the digestive system, limited mobility, dexterity or vision can all cause discomfort associated with eating. Fluid intake is often lower in older people which can cause dehydration, particularly during bouts of illness. People at risk should have a nutritional assessment and individual advice from a dietitian to address areas of concern such as needing extra calories, meal supplements and replacements, weight reduction, low salt diet or manageable foods. Nutritional assessment and diet should form part of your individual care plan if you live in a care home. Personal food preferences are important in any diet plan and older people with diabetes should be able to continue to enjoy a wide variety of foods. Staff, including catering staff in older people's care homes, should have training to give them an understanding of the specific needs of individuals with diabetes. Keeping active Keeping active in later life helps to strengthen muscles, maintain mobility and balance and improves insulin sensitivity. It can help you to continue to self-care, can improve your mental well-being and prevent falls. You can aim to be as active as you are able. Older people, including th Continue reading >>
Breaking: Diabetes Drugs Linked To Alzheimers And Dementia
If you’re diabetic and you’re taking medication, you’re probably putting your brain at great risk. Their calling the new study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine a “Diabetes Game-Changer." It proves that prolonged use of diabetes drugs puts you at risk for a deficiency which can cause neurological problems, including dementia, and even brain shrinkage. This study used data that was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes. This was a 5-year study that ran from 1996 until 2001. It followed more than 3,000 people who were “at risk” for diabetes. Participants were divided into three groups. Group #1 was assigned a special lifestyle change method. They were put on a very specific diet and performed light exercises. Group #2 was given the diabetes drug metformin. Group #3 was given a placebo. The purpose of this study was to see which group had the lowest rates of diabetes and took the longest to develop it. Group #1 beat the others by a landslide. The study authors were so astounded by their findings that the program morphed into a follow-up study, in which the original participants were followed for several more years. The researchers found that Group #2 (those taking metformin) were twice as likely as to have a B12 deficiency, and more likely to become anemic. More shocking yet, it was discovered that they were also more likely to develop neurological problems like Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Yet, for unknown reasons, the Diabetes-Institute-funded research didn’t follow up on the special diet procedure completed by Group #1. It’s everywhere, dangerous, and under-diagnosed While we don’t hear much about it, it’s common knowledge that B12 deficiency causes dementia. And data from a large study by Tufts University* suggests that low B12 leve Continue reading >>
8 Treatable Conditions That Can Be Mistaken For Alzheimer’s Disease
En español | With headlines trumpeting the rising rates of Alzheimer’s disease diagnoses — the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that the number of people living with the disease will grow from 5 million today to 16 million by 2050 — it’s easy to get that distressing feeling that a misplaced coffee cup or forgotten dry cleaning might mean that you (or a loved one) are sliding inevitably toward an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. But you should know that while the disease is the most common cause of dementia, or cognitive impairment, late in life, it’s not the only one. Especially if you’re younger than 70 and having cognitive complaints, says Marc Agronin, a geriatric psychiatrist in Miami and author of the 2015 book The Dementia Caregiver, “dementia is often not Alzheimer’s but reflective of depression or substance abuse or medication effects.” If your symptoms concern you, Agronin suggests seeing a specialist for “a good solid medical workup, including a brain scan — preferably an MRI — to ensure that there aren’t any medical factors that are either causing the neurocognitive disorder or worsening it.” He adds that there are a lot of misconceptions about dementia’s causes. Diabetes, for instance, is a big risk factor for dementia — both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia — but it does not directly cause dementia symptoms. Here are eight of the most common reasons — after Alzheimer’s — for dementia, with information on what you can do about them. 1. Could it be normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)? Milton Newman had a thriving dental practice in Peekskill, N.Y., but over a period of about 15 years, his memory became fuzzy and he lost his ability to do simple things around the house. Everyone assumed he was experiencing the beg Continue reading >>
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is a common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. It's estimated to affect around 150,000 people in the UK. "Dementia" is the name for problems with mental abilities caused by gradual changes and damage in the brain. It's rare in people under 65. Vascular dementia tends to get worse over time, although it's sometimes possible to slow it down. Symptoms of vascular dementia Vascular dementia can start suddenly or come on slowly over time. Symptoms include: slowness of thought difficulty with planning and understanding problems with concentration mood, personality or behavioural changes feeling disorientated and confused difficulty walking and keeping balance symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as problems with memory and language (many people with vascular dementia also have Alzheimer's) These problems can make daily activities increasingly difficult and someone with the condition may eventually be unable to look after themselves. Read more about the symptoms of vascular dementia. Getting medical advice See your GP if you think you have early symptoms of dementia, especially if you're over 65 years of age. If it's spotted at an early stage, treatment may be able to stop the vascular dementia getting worse, or at least slow it down. If you're worried about someone else, encourage them to make an appointment with their GP and perhaps suggest that you go with them. Your GP can do some simple checks to try to find the cause of your symptoms and they can refer you to a memory clinic or another specialist for further tests if needed. Read more about getting a dementia diagnosis. Tests for vascular dementia There's no single test for vascular dementia. The following are needed to make a diagnosis: an assessment of symptoms – for exampl Continue reading >>
Diabetic Encephalopathy
Diabetic encephalopathy is damage to the brain caused by diabetes. A relatively unknown complication, encephalopathy is becoming more widely recognized as more people are diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetic encephalopathy presents itself both mentally and physically. It can induce an altered mental state, cognitive decline, changes in personality, memory lapses, or severe impairment like dementia. The complication can also cause tremors, lack of coordination, and even seizures. Diabetic encephalopathy is largely due to acute hypoglycemia (blood sugar levels are too low) or severe hyperglycemia (blood sugar levels are too high). The condition manifests itself differently between the two major types of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes Encephalopathy in those with type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. According to a 2011 study, those with type 2 diabetes were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s and 1.75 times more likely to develop other forms of dementia than healthy participants. This increased risk could be due to many different factors brought about from type 2 diabetes. It could be caused by the body’s resistance to insulin, which makes it difficult for the brain to break down amyloid, a protein that forms brain plaques. Brain plaques are abnormal clusters of this protein that block cell-to-cell signaling at the synapses—a symptom infamous for contributing to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Type 2 diabetic encephalopathy can also be generated from hyperglycemia or the conditions that commonly accompany type 2 diabetes like high blood pressure, obesity, or high cholesterol. Oxidative stress is another provoker of the complication. This stems from an imbalance between reactive oxyge Continue reading >>
Is High Blood Sugar Damaging Your Brain?
Did you know that diabetes is a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline? But effectively managing diabetes could actually improve long-term brain health. In diabetes, blood glucose levels remain too high, either because the body does not make or becomes resistant to insulin. Over time, high glucose levels can have serious repercussions, such as heart disease and stroke. But lower them too much and you could face immediate and severe side effects including confusion and cognitive impairment and, possibly, an increased risk of long-term cognitive decline [1][2]. WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS Diabetics have up to 73% increased risk of dementia and a 100% higher risk of developing vascular dementia than non-diabetics [3][4–6]. The association between diabetes and dementia risk is even stronger in people with the APOE4 gene [5]. Diabetes can lead to subtle cognitive decline and, in patients with mild cognitive impairment ?, it increases the odds of progressing to dementia [7–9]. The side effects of diabetes can worsen confusion and cognitive impairment in people with dementia. Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease share certain characteristics, including impaired insulin signaling and oxidative stress [10]. Because of this, research is underway to evaluate whether some specific diabetes drugs including metformin [11], liraglutide [12], exenatide [13], and pioglitazone [14] can prevent or treat dementia even in patients without diabetes [7]. WHAT YOU CAN DO Strong research from multiple meta-analyses indicates that preventing or effectively managing diabetes is one of the most important things you can do to reduce dementia risk and protect your brain from cognitive decline [3][15-17]. Healthy diet, exercise, and weight control are the first steps of diabetes management Continue reading >>
Diabetes Can Double Your Risk Of Dementia
Media Release Diabetes can double your risk of dementia Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition that affects around 1.7 million Australians1 and can significantly increase your risk of dementia by up to double2. This week is National Diabetes Week 2016, which aims to educate the public and support people living with diabetes. Alzheimer’s Australia National CEO Carol Bennett says, “it is an important time to highlight the undeniable links between diabetes and dementia. The risk of developing dementia in the general population is around 10%, for people with diabetes this risk significantly increases to around 20%3.” According to population studies, the reason for this increased risk of dementia among people with diabetes is not completely understood and is likely to involve a number of factors including: High blood glucose levels can damage the cells of the body, including blood vessels in the brain High levels of insulin in the blood can cause damage to blood vessels and cells in the brain Diabetes may contribute to the build-up of proteins in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease “These statistics reinforce just how important it is to ensure Australians are aware of the risks associated with diabetes and dementia, particularly type 2 diabetes, and that there are things that can be done to reduce the risk of developing both dementia and type 2 diabetes,” Ms Bennett said. Some risk reduction steps people are often not aware of include: Regularly check your blood sugar levels and follow treatment advice if diabetes or other problems are found. Maintain a healthy body weight – regular physical activity can help reduce your risk of developing both diabetes and dementia. Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet of foods that are low in saturated fa Continue reading >>
Dementia Risk Rises With A1c--not Diabetes Diagnosis
The news often carries stories that link diabetes and Alzheimer's disease or dementia and make it sound as if a diabetes diagnosis may also doom you to developing these terrible, incurable, life-ruining conditions. These media reports are often based on poor understanding of the studies they cite. Here are what several important studies have really found about this relationship. Dementia Risk Rises with A1c--Not Diabetes Diagnosis The most important point is this: it isn't "diabetes" that raises your risk of developing dementia, it is your average blood sugar. There is a close relationship between A1c and your likelihood of developing dementia. One study that demonstrates this was published in this Diabetes Care in January of 2009. It looked at data from the notorious ACCORD study and concluded two things: "Higher A1C levels are associated with lower cognitive function in individuals with diabetes" and "FPG was not associated with [mental functioning] test performance." Relationship Between Baseline Glycemic Control and Cognitive Function in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors.(ACCORD-MIND) trial. Tali Cukierman-Yaffe et al.Diabetes Care 32:221-226, 2009 The study found that a 1% rise in A1c (i.e. from 6.0% to 7.0%) was associated with a significant decline in scores on three different tests of mental functioning. Though this is depressing news if you have a high A1c, people with diabetes frequently lower their A1cs by huge amounts. For some examples (and these are just a very few examples drawn from public postings and emails I get) visit The 5% Club: They Normalized Their Blood Sugar and So Can You Be very clear about this: The risk factor is not a Diabetes diagnosis. It is high blood sugars--the high blood sugars too many doctors co Continue reading >>
Nine Tips To Keep Your Memory With Diabetes
First, the good news. People, in general, are living longer. And people who have diabetes can and do live long, healthy lives. Now, the not-so-good news: People who have diabetes are more likely to experience memory problems than people without the condition. According to a study out of the University of South Florida in Tampa, older adults who had diabetes and high blood sugars performed worse on memory tests at the start of the study and showed a greater decline in memory by the end of the study compared to older adult without diabetes. What’s behind the memory decline in diabetes? Previous studies have shown that people with Type 2 diabetes have an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a kind of dementia that causes issues with memory, thinking, and behavior. It’s progressive and irreversible, and it eventually destroys a person’s ability to carry out even the simplest of tasks. While memory loss is a key feature of Alzheimer’s, there are differences between the memory loss that occurs with aging and memory loss due to Alzheimer’s. However, both are more likely to occur in people with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers think that damage to blood vessels, which can occur in diabetes, is what can lead to cognitive problems and vascular dementia. It’s also possible that high blood sugar levels cause damage in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that’s involved in memory. Actually, high blood sugars appear to be detrimental to brain health, in general. But even people whose diabetes is in good control are more likely to experience memory problems and impairments in cognitive function. It’s also worth noting that having too many very low blood sugars (if you’re at risk for lows) may potentially also affect your memory and cognition. The g Continue reading >>
Investigating The Relationship Between Diabetes And Dementia
Lead Investigator: Professor Stephen Wharton Institution: University of Sheffield Grant type: Project Grant Duration: 36 months Amount: £225,716 Scientific Title: Diabetes, Defective Nutrient Signalling and Dementia: an Epidemiological Neuropathology Approach Why did we fund this project? Comments from members of our Research Network: 'This study could provide important information in identifying how diabetes contributes to cognitive decline and dementia. It could also lead to further important research' 'Diabetes and obesity are two ticking time bombs. Understanding their contribution to dementia is of immense importance' 'The project makes excellent use of a very important brain bank' What do we already know? Research has shown that diabetes can increase the risk of developing both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. This is thought to be because the mechanisms behind diabetes development can damage small blood vessels in the brain, which is likely to contribute towards vascular dementia. It is also thought that diabetes-related blood vessel damage could lead to a reduced blood flow to the brain, which may be a factor in Alzheimer's disease development. Professor Wharton believes that diabetes mechanisms may also directly cause damage to brain cells. He intends to use this project to further investigate the molecular reasons behind the apparent link between diabetes and dementia. The project will also determine whether a common condition called metabolic syndrome can influence dementia development. Metabolic syndrome encompasses a group of symptoms including obesity, high blood pressure, impaired blood glucose processing and impaired metabolic processes in cells. What does this project involve? The project will look at several aspects of diabetes and metabolic Continue reading >>
Can Diabetes Cause Alzheimer's Disease?
Diabetes may be affecting much more than your blood sugar -- perhaps even your thoughts. Researchers are curious about how diabetes may be linked to the development of serious mind matters, including cognitive decline and forms of vascular dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. Vascular Issues Measuring the links between cognitive problems and diabetes is challenging because it can be difficult to untangle over time the effects of high and low blood glucose levels, high blood pressure, and other risk factors, such as obesity, that often are present, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. These can contribute to blood vessel damage in the brain, which can affect cognition. Hypoglycemia In addition to the role of vascular issues on cognition, hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) raises concerns. Does severe low blood glucose (requiring the help of others), particularly in children or the elderly, cause cognitive problems? In the immediate term, severe hypoglycemia can cause short-term cognitive impairment, such as slowed ability to accurately subtract numbers. But over time the effects seem to do no long-term damage. A look at adolescents in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial found that "despite relatively high rates of severe hypoglycemia, cognitive function did not decline over an extended period of time in the youngest cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes," says Gail Musen, Ph.D., an investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. A Lack of Evidence? Not everyone is convinced that the correlation between diabetes and cognitive decline is strong. Many applicable studies don't follow patients for decades, so they have to rely on assumptions of later outcomes. Gerald Bernstein, M.D., director of the Diabetes Management Program at the Friedman Diabetes I Continue reading >>
The Association Of Diabetes And Dementia And Possible Implications For Nondiabetic Populations
Type 2 diabetes has consistently been shown to be associated with increased risk for cognitive decline [1], mild cognitive impairment (MCI) [2] and dementia [3–5]: both vascular dementia [6,7] and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [6,7]. Such results have been demonstrated for diabetes both in midlife [3,5] and in old age [8,9]. Even prediabetes stages, namely, insulin resistance, have been shown to be associated with increased risk for cognitive decline and with increased rates of brain atrophy [10], both of which are associated with dementia. Similarly, impaired fasting glucose has been associated with cognitive impairment [11]. The results of studies on the association of diabetes with the rate of cognitive decline vary, with the majority showing a higher rate or risk for cognitive decline in diabetic subjects compared with nondiabetic subjects [12–16], some showing no association between the rate of cognitive deterioration and diabetes status [17–19] and others even showing a slower rate of decline in diabetic AD patients [20]. Differences between studies may be attributed to the cognitive status and age range of subjects included, as well as to the tools used to measure cognitive status and the definition of cognitive decline [16]. These differences may also reflect different roles for diabetes as a risk factor for dementia and in the rate of disease progression. The importance of these findings is that diabetes-related characteristics are modifiable, so that the degree of control of plasma glucose levels, prevention or treatment of insulin resistance and/or specific treatments in diabetic patients could potentially prevent dementia or delay its clinical onset. Since diabetes prevalence in the Western world is accelerating alarmingly, such treatments may affect a la Continue reading >>
