Type 2 diabetes: People who develop condition at a certain age at higher risk of dementia

Diabetes type 2: Dr Zoe Williams discusses high blood sugar risks

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People who develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age have an increased risk of dementia, according to a new study. There are many reason why someone diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is at risk of dementia. One reason is related to the effects diabetes has on the heart. Heart health disease and elevated blood pressure are both associated with strokes, that in turn, can lead to dementia. Other factors include tight control of blood sugar which can lead to hypoglycaemia, memory loss and dementia. Insulin resistance in the brain can also lead to the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer’s disease.

To explore the link between age of onset type 2 diabetes and the risk of dementia, scientists at the Université de Paris, examined data from the Whitehall II Study, a long-term study of health in British government employees.

Participants were aged between 35 and 55 when they enrolled.

Researchers analysed blood samples from every four to five years and electronic health records (EHRs) spanning 32 years, to identify participants who had type 2 diabetes and were taking medication to treat the condition.

Out of the 10,308 participants, a total of 639 were later diagnosed with dementia. Of the 1,710 diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, 153 were later diagnosed with dementia.

READ MORE: Diabetes early symptoms: The 13 warning signs you shouldn’t ignore

The researchers concluded that people who were diagnosed with diabetes between 65 and 70 years old were 24 percent more likely to have dementia than people who did not have type 2 diabetes at the age of 70.

The study authors also found that people who were diagnosed with diabetes between the ages 60 and 64 were 24 percent more likely to have dementia than people who were diagnosed with diabetes five years later.

However participants who were diagnosed with diabetes after the age of 70 did not have an increased risk of dementia.

The study authors noted that in people with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance problems with a person’s blood vessels, and frequent changes in blood sugar levels over severals years might cause problems with blood flow and metabolism on the brain.

Although previous studies had established a link between diabetes and an increased risk of dementia, they hadn’t established at which age a person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes influences the risk.

Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar in the blood to become too high.

It happens when the insulin the pancreas makes can’t work properly, which causes blood glucose levels to keep rising.

The disease is becoming more common and is occurring at younger ages.

It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness.

According to the NHS, the best way to relieves painful symptoms of Type 2 diabetes is to lower blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar levels can we lowered by overhauling unhealthy aspects of lifestyle, such as poor diet and inactivity.

Although there aren’t specific foods people with type 2 diabetes cannot eat, certain foods do have to be limited.

That’s because certain foods, such as carbohydrates, can have a marked impact on blood sugar levels.

Carbohydrates are broken down into blood glucose faster than other food group, raising the risk of spiked blood sugar levels after they are consumed.

Keeping active can also help manage blood sugar levels.

It will aid weight loss, which will make it easier for the body to lower blood sugar sugar level and can improve blood sugar and cholesterol, both heart disease precursors.

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