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Diabetes and Alzheimer's linked

Diabetes may increase your risk of Alzheimer's. Reduce this risk by controlling your blood sugar. Diet and exercise can help.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Diabetes and Alzheimer's disease are connected in ways that still aren't completely understood. While not all research confirms the connection, many studies indicate that people with diabetes — especially type 2 diabetes — are at higher risk of eventually developing Alzheimer's disease.

Taking steps to prevent or control diabetes may help reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Understanding the connection

Because diabetes damages blood vessels, it has long been recognized as a risk factor for vascular dementia — a type of cognitive decline caused by damaged blood vessels in the brain. Many people with cognitive decline have brain changes that are hallmarks of both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Some researchers think that each condition helps fuel the damage caused by the other.

Ongoing research focuses on confirming the link between Alzheimer's and diabetes and understanding why it exists. The link between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's may be especially strong as a result of the complex ways that type 2 diabetes affects the ability of the brain and other body tissues to use sugar (glucose) and respond to insulin.

Diabetes may also increase the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transition stage between the cognitive changes of normal aging and the more serious problems caused by Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

Greater insight into how diabetes and Alzheimer's disease are connected may eventually reveal new strategies to avoid Alzheimer's as a complication of diabetes. These insights may also suggest new Alzheimer's treatments.

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References
  1. National diabetes statistics 2007. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/index.htm. Accessed July 14, 2010.
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  5. Toro P, et al. Type II diabetes in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 2009;16:687.
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  9. Rockwood K, et al. The inclusion of cognition in vascular risk factor clinical practice guidelines. Clinical Interventions in Aging. 2009;4:425.
  10. Diabetes Prevention Program. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. 2008. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/preventionprogram. Accessed July16, 2010.
  11. Preventing Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement. April 26-28, 2010. http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/docs/alz/ALZ_Final_Statement.pdf. Accessed June 25, 2010.
  12. Diabetes overview. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/overview/index.htm. Accessed Aug. 6, 2010.
  13. 4 Steps to control your diabetes. For life. National Institutes of Health. http://www.ndep.nih.gov/media/4_Steps.pdf. Accessed Aug. 6, 2010.
AZ00050 Sept. 16, 2010

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