Understanding the Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s

Health is always at the forefront of your mind if you have diabetes. Watching your diet, exercising, and monitoring your body is second nature. While these activities are vital for staying healthy, a new study has shown us another reason to stay on top of your health. It turns out that blood sugar and glucose levels have a correlation to brain health and ailments such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. In a study published by the Annals of Internal Medicine, it was found that those with diabetes had a 19% decline in cognitive function over a 20 year period. Those with pre-diabetes also showed the same degeneration.

Helping the Elderly

The study doesn’t just map diabetics either. It found that people with poor control over their blood sugar had a decrease in neuroplasticity, meaning that people who are not cognizant of their diet and sugar intake also see a steep decline in mental ability compared to those that control their blood sugar. Diabetics that do not control their diabetes, either through not being diagnosed or through poor management, had the steepest decline over the time of the study.

What this information shows is just how important it is for diabetics to manage not only their physical health, but their mental acuity as well. Nutrition, physical and mental exercise,  and stress management are 4 of the most effective ways the study found to help prevent brain degradation.   While the correlation seems bleak, the information provided could help millions protect themselves from incredible hardship later in life.

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