Diabetes At Younger Age Linked To Higher Risk Of Dementia: Study

Preventing and managing diabetes is key to reducing dementia risk, according to a new study.

Researchers studying the link between prediabetes and dementia have found that people who develop diabetes at a young age have a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.

Prediabetes is a serious health problem situation This results in higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, although not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. An estimated 96 million adults in the United States have prediabetes.

Prediabetes often develops without many symptoms. Factors such as obesity, age, physical inactivity, type 2 diabetes in a parent or sibling, and gestational diabetes can increase your chances of developing prediabetes.

Weight loss and exercise can slow the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes in most cases.

According to the latest study, compared with healthy people, those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the age of 60 had three times the risk of developing dementia. When people develop diabetes in older age, the risk of dementia decreases.

“Slowing or preventing the progression of prediabetes to diabetes may be an important way to prevent dementia,” said study co-author Michael Fang. The findings were published in the journal Diabetology.

Although researchers have yet to determine exactly how diabetes triggers dementia, they believe that the insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes lead to the accumulation of beta-amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. Abnormal levels of tau protein are often associated with Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.

“A buildup of beta-amyloid and tau proteins can lead to loss of brain cells that can lead to dementia. It is unclear whether prediabetes is an independent risk factor, or whether people with prediabetes simply have a higher risk of developing diabetes.” explain“Our findings support the theory that prediabetes is important for dementia, primarily because these patients are at increased risk of developing diabetes.”

The study highlights how preventing and managing diabetes can help protect brain health and prevent memory loss.

“Healthy diet, exercise and weight control are the first steps in diabetes prevention and management,” explained Yuko Hara, director of prevention and aging at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation in New York City, who reviewed the study.

Published by Medicaldaily.com