According to a new study, diabetes can cause cognitive and mental decline, making it associated with the onset of dementia.
Prediabetes means that a person's blood sugar level has risen above normal. The study published in the *JAMA* journal found that increases in blood sugar levels can lead to a loss of cognitive function. The study included nearly 4,000 adults, and researchers found that people with dementia had higher sugar levels in their skin and blood. According to Dr. Gabi Merkin, "Cognitive abilities related to aging are affected when blood sugar levels rise significantly after eating, which causes sugar to irreversibly bind to proteins, fats, or amino acids."
Merkin adds that age stimulates the immune system to cause inflammation, which can damage all types of cells in the body, increasing the risk of dementia, heart attacks, strokes, and even certain forms of cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100 million adults in the United States have diabetes or prediabetes, with approximately 84 million Americans estimated to have prediabetes, which can develop into diabetes, many of whom are unaware they have the condition.
Additionally, Dr. Merkin notes some classic signs that may indicate a risk of prediabetes, stating: "If you can pinch more than two inches of fat under the skin near your belly button or have a large belly with small hips, you are at real risk. Blood tests can determine the risk of diabetes."
According to Healthline, one reason diabetes is linked to dementia is that insulin helps glucose reach the brain, and for diabetic individuals, this becomes a difficult task, depriving the brain of energy, which may lead to the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Moreover, another reason for dementia and Alzheimer's is that diabetes directly damages blood vessels, while vascular damage in the brain contributes to cognitive decline. High blood sugar also causes inflammation that can damage brain cells, leading to dementia over time.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, simple lifestyle choices can help avoid diabetes, which include:
- Losing at least 5% of body weight.
- Exercising for 30 minutes, five days a week.
- Following a healthy, low-fat diet.
Dr. Merkin also adds that including plenty of vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and whole fruits in your diet can also reduce the risk of prediabetes or diabetes.
