What worries some doctors is that
if the correlation between the two diseases is as strong as
research indicates, the number of people who develop Alzheimer’s
could skyrocket in the future. More than 14 million Americans
have diabetes, and another 6 million are unaware they have the
disease. With cases of Type 2 diabetes rising—an increase that
is being attributed to a rise in obesity—the number of people
who develop Alzheimer’s over the next few decades may be even
greater than anticipated.
“It could be the ‘perfect storm,’” says Dr. Reading.
“Approximately 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease,
and that number is expected to be three times as high by 2050
due to how the U.S. population is aging. And that doesn’t even
take into account the possible diabetes rise. If you consider
the cost of caring for a person with Alzheimer’s, a large public
health problem could be on the horizon.”
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America estimates that annual
costs of caring for one patient with Alzheimer’s ranges from
$18,500 to more than $36,000 each year. On average, a patient
with Alzheimer’s lives eight to 10 years after being diagnosed
with the disease.
So what is the connection between the two diseases? Type 2
diabetes, the most common form, occurs when your body can’t
properly use the hormone insulin. While the body uses insulin to
control blood sugar use and levels, scientists have found that
the brain also produces insulin to feed cells that help us learn
and remember. Too much insulin in the body may create a chemical
imbalance, triggering Alzheimer’s, some researchers say.
“Another explanation that is being researched is that the build
up of blood sugar caused by uncontrolled diabetes results in
inflammation that damages brain cells,” explains Dr. Reading.
“An additional possibility is that because diabetes raises the
risk of heart disease and stroke, damaged blood vessels in the
brain may lead to Alzheimer’s.”
If the mystery surrounding the link between diabetes and
Alzheimer’s could be unraveled, there is the possibility that
doctors could use already developed diabetes drugs to treat or
prevent Alzheimer’s. In fact, one recent Swedish study has
already shown that a certain class of diabetes medications may
help people with diabetes from developing Alzheimer’s.
So if you take steps to prevent diabetes, can you prevent
Alzheimer’s? There’s no definitive answer yet, but it can’t
hurt. Another recent study reported that even people who had
“borderline” diabetes were 70 percent more likely than people
who had normal blood sugar to develop Alzheimer’s. Type 2
diabetes prevention guidelines include losing weight, exercising
regularly and eating a low-fat, well-rounded diet with lots of
fruits and vegetables.
“Alzheimer’s is a disease that robs people of the ability to
lead their everyday lives and strips them of their most precious
memories,” says Dr. Reading. “The research into the link between
Alzheimer’s and diabetes offers hope for a cure.”
###
Patience
Reading, M.D., is a board certified neurologist at The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic, a multi-specialty clinic with more than 120
physicians representing 24 medical specialties at six locations
throughout Austin and Central Texas. Visit www.adclinic.com or
call 512-901-1111. |
