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Diabetes Linked to Alzheimer's Disease
Experts Fear Rise in Diabetes May Lead to Alzheimer's Epidemic
Reviewed by
Louise Chang, MD
June 26, 2007 (Chicago) -- New findings suggest that poorly controlled diabetes may lead to Alzheimer's disease.
The worry is that today's mushrooming diabetes epidemic will become tomorrow's Alzheimer's epidemic, researchers said at the American Diabetes Association's 67th Annual Scientific Sessions, held June 22-26 in Chicago.
Recent findings suggest that diabetes speeds -- and may even cause -- Alzheimer's disease, said neurologist Sudha Seshadri, MD, of Boston University.
"In both men and women, diabetes is associated with lower brain volume," Seshadri said. "The magnitude was quite substantial."
Indeed, the brains of people with diabetes are about "10 years older" than the brains of same-age people without diabetes, Seshadri said.
Like a detective linking a suspect to a crime, Seshadri pieced together the evidence linking diabetes to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
"Even if it were not a direct cause, diabetes may hasten the onset of clinical manifestations of Alzheimer's disease because the brain goes downhill faster," she said. "But diabetes and Alzheimer's may share underlying genetic and pathophysiologic pathways. Diabetes may directly impact Alzheimer's prevalence."
Insulin/Alzheimer's Link
The central problem in diabetes is the body's inability to regulate blood sugar through the hormone insulin.
But insulin does a lot more than regulate blood sugar, notes Suzanne Craft, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the University of Washington, Seattle, and a researcher at the VA Puget Sound Medical Center.
"Insulin plays a role in normal cognitive function -- and dysregulation of insulin increases risk for cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases," Craft said at the American Diabetes Association meeting.
Insulin has a particularly strong effect on memory, Craft and colleagues have found. At the right doses, insulin actually improves memory. Indeed, Craft's team is conducting a clinical trial of a device that squirts insulin into the nose in a manner that takes it to the brain but not to the rest of the body.
Preliminary results from this so-called Study of Nasal Insulin to Fight Forgetfulness -- SNIFF -- show that insulin can boost both memory and attention to tasks in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
An opposite effect is seen in people with insulin resistance, Craft says, even before they develop type 2 diabetes.
"The increasing prevalence of insulin resistance is worrisome from a public health standpoint," she said. "Does this foreshadow an impending dementia epidemic?"
Craft has also found that the relatively high levels of insulin in people with type 2 diabetes may spur development of the amyloid protein that is present in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. High insulin levels may also trigger a cascade of potentially harmful chemical signals in the brain.
High levels of insulin "may create a neurobiological context for later degenerative brain diseases," Craft said.
She urged diabetes researchers to include measures of cognitive function in all future clinical trials of diabetes treatments.
- Is someone in your family suffering from Alzheimer’s? Discuss this and other topics on WebMD's Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group message board.
© 2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Is This Normal?
Get the Facts Fast!Answer:
Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia). |
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
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