Watching your loved ones slowly lose their cognitive abilities and the characteristics that make them so special is absolutely heartbreaking. Dementia has a way of taking your loved one away from you even when they are still alive.
According to the World Health Organization, WHERE, dementia is the 7th leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability among the elderly worldwide.
Dementia is not only more common in women, but women also provide 70% of care hours for people with dementia, meaning it disproportionately affects women whether they are patients or caregivers.
As dementia is a reality for many seniors and the loved ones who care for them, it is important to consider what may be behind it. More and more research has linked dementia to insulin resistance and diabetes. Some experts even call it the “third type of diabetes”.
Dementia overview
Dementia is not a specific condition, but rather a term for many illnesses that can affect one’s thinking and memoryas well as their ability to perform each task.
It mainly affects people who are 65 and above and tends to get worse over time. Dementia can also cause changes in mood and behaviour, and sufferers may eventually find it difficult to move around, go to the toilet and eat and drink.
There are a wide range of illnesses and injuries that can cause someone to develop dementia, the most common of which are: Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia can also be caused by strokes, brain injuries, HIV, vascular dementia and nutritional deficiencies.
Dementia symptoms can vary widely between individuals and at different stages of the disease. Here are some common ones:
- Misplacing or losing things
- Difficulty keeping track of time
- Forgetting recent events
- Has trouble following conversations or finding the right words
- Social withdrawal
- Changes in personality
- Feeling sad, angry, or anxious about cognitive changes
- Feeling confused even when somewhere familiar
While genetics can play a role in some types of dementia, certain lifestyle choices and underlying disorders can also increase someone’s chances of developing it. Things like High blood pressure, smoking, high levels of alcohol consumption, social isolation, depression and even diabetes can all increase the risk of dementia.
Diabetes Overview
Now a quick spin on its basics Diabetes before exploring its relationship to dementia. There are three main types of diabetes, type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes which occurs during pregnancy.
All forms of diabetes affect the body’s ability to use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar by entering the body’s cells for energy and signaling the liver to store blood sugar for later use.
Type 1 diabetes is generally considered an autoimmune disease which causes the body to stop producing insulin. This type is less common and is more likely to be diagnosed in children or young adults, although it can develop at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin to live.
Type 2 diabetes is when the body doesn’t use insulin well and has trouble regulating blood sugar levels. The usually caused by lifestyle factors. Those with type 2 diabetes can often manage the condition with lifestyle changes, but they may also need to take insulin medication.
The link between dementia and diabetes
It is known that diabetes can lead to cognitive impairment, but it is new research suggests that diabetes may increase someone’s risk of developing dementia. One study even found that those with prediabetes also have a higher risk of dementia.
Another longitudinal study found that not only does diabetes increase someone’s risk of developing dementia, but age also plays a role. Researchers found that developing diabetes at an earlier age significantly increased someone’s chance of developing dementia later in life.
What do these seemingly unrelated diseases have to do with each other? Researchers and doctors aren’t exactly sure how diabetes might increase dementia rates, but they have some ideas.
How diabetes can lead to dementia
You’ll remember that diabetes affects the body’s ability to make or use insulin properly. In addition to playing an important role in regulating blood sugar, Insulin has also been identified as a key player in cognitive processes such as memory. Insulin is probably transported to Central Nervous System to the brain through the blood-brain barrier.
While most insulin is made in the pancreas, the brain can make it too. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can affect insulin in the brain, which can potentially damage the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory.
There is a known relationship between diabetes and heart or cardiovascular disease. Heart disease can increase the risk of stroke, which can lead to dementia. This explanation does not paint the whole picture, as people with cardiovascular disease have one increased danger onset of dementia without having suffered a stroke.
Other Link between diabetes and dementia has to do with oxygen and nutrition to the brain. Over time, Diabetes can narrow the capillaries and arteries in the body. These are key pathways that deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, including the brain. Combined with high blood pressure and cholesterol, this can increase the risk of vascular dementia caused by damage to the brain’s blood vessels.
There is also a theory that diabetes can directly cause Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers explain it Elevated blood sugar levels can increase a naturally occurring protein in the brain known as beta-amyloid. This protein is a sticky substance, and excess of it can create plaques or clumps in the brain that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
Prevention of dementia and diabetes
Within five years, seniors with type 2 diabetes may develop cognitive impairment twice as many as those who do not. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes or you can manage the symptoms if you have already been diagnosed with it.
- Eat plenty of dietary fiber, which is easily found in fruits, vegetables and legumes
- Avoid using tobacco products
- Limit your alcohol consumption
- Limit added sugar and refined carbohydrates
- Do regular physical activity
- Manage weight if needed
- Eat healthy fats and proteins
Some people may need to use medicines such as insulin or metformin to help manage diabetes symptoms. The drug pioglitazone, which helps your body use insulin better, showed a 47% risk of dementia in diabetes patients.
Dementia affects not only those diagnosed with it, but also all their loved ones and carers. Taking steps to prevent or manage diabetes can help you not only prevent dementia but feel better overall.
