Raised Blood Sugar May Increase Alzheimer's Risk

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Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Diabetes;  Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 17 Jul 2006 - 10:00 PDT

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If you have raised blood sugar levels your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease are higher, say researchers from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Researchers presented their finding yesterday at the Alzheimer's Conference, Madird, Spain. The study looked at over 1,173 people, aged 75 - some of whom had developed dementia, while others had not.

Previous studies have identified an association between diabetes type 2 and Alzheimer's risk. In this study, the researchers sought to examine the hypothesis that borderline diabetes mellitus (pre-diabetes) is a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer disease.

This new research indicates the risk is also there for people who have raised blood sugar levels, but have not yet developed diabetes type 2 - people with pre-diabetes. The link is stronger if the person has pre-diabetes together with severe systolic hypertension (high blood pressure).

Many more people have pre-diabetes than those with diabetes type 2. In the USA 14.6 million people have diabetes, while it is estimated that about 41 million are in the pre-diabetes category.

The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is expected to increase as people live longer and more people develop diabetes over the coming decades. According to the findings of this new research, Alzheimer's rates may go up even faster than was previously thought.

BORDERLINE DIABETES MELLITUS AND RISK OF DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER DISEASE: A POPULATION-BASED LONGITUDINAL STUDY
Weili Xu, Chengxuan Qiu, Bengt Winblad, Laura Fratiglioni, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Alzheimer's Conference, Madird, Spain.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
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