It has long been noticed that people with diabetes, particularly diabetes type 2, stand an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as they grow older. An understanding of this link is just beginning to develop. Fortunately, if you have diabetes, you can take action to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a group of disorders affecting glucose metabolism. Diabetes type 2, also called diabetes mellitus, is the most common type, according to the American Diabetes Association. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas fails to make enough insulin or the body fails to use the insulin properly. The result is that glucose remains in the bloodstream, damaging organs, while the cells of the body suffer from the loss of energy that should come from the glucose metabolism. Oral medications and insulin prevent many of these damaging effects.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It disproportionately affects older adults, causing severe memory, thinking and behavior problems. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease and only a few FDA-approved medications that slow the disease process. Alzheimer's disease has clinical stages, with the final stage resulting in death. The course of Alzheimer's can be rapid or slow but often lasts around a decade.
Diabetes and Alzheimer's Link
Science Daily reports that scientists at the Salk Institute have conducted research in mice in an effort to explain the increased risk of Alzheimer's disease among those with diabetes. According to the website, the scientists discovered that high blood glucose levels interacted with beta amyloid, a type of protein associated with the development of plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers. The scientists suspect that this unhealthy interaction, which can occur early in the diabetes disease process, lays the damaging groundwork for future Alzheimer's disease.
What to Do
If you have diabetes, keep a tight control on your blood sugar, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Check your blood sugar exactly as your physician recommends, take your medicine as ordered and follow your prescribed diet faithfully. Maintain a normal weight and keep your blood pressure under control, as both obesity and hypertension further increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease. Keep all physician and labwork appointments and strive for thirty minutes of physical activity each day. Don't feel that Alzheimer's is inevitable; become an active partner in your healthcare and follow your physician's recommendations for Alzheimer's prevention.
