Scientists have explained the association of diabetes with an increased risk of dementia

Diabetes and dementia mutually increase the risk of developing each other through a number of biological mechanisms, from impaired insulin metabolism to damage to the blood vessels of the brain. At the same time, a number of drugs for lowering blood sugar levels are able to simultaneously protect neurons. This was reported on June 16 in the journal Science Daily.

According to researchers, people with diabetes are about 60% more likely to develop dementia compared to those with normal blood sugar levels. Frequent episodes of hypoglycemia additionally increase the risk of cognitive decline by 50%.

Insulin resistance, the main mechanism of type 2 diabetes, affects not only the liver and muscles, but also the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, it can make it difficult for neurons to use glucose, which accelerates their degradation. Researchers informally refer to this phenomenon as "type 3 diabetes."

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In turn, Alzheimer's disease can increase fasting glucose levels, even in people without established diabetes. Carriers of the most significant genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, the APOE4 variant, have decreased insulin sensitivity due to the "capture" of the receptor inside the cell.

Diabetes damages blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain: blood flow and oxygen supply decrease, the protective barrier of neurons weakens, inflammation increases — all this is associated with the development of dementia.

On June 9, researchers from the Swiss Higher Technical School of Zurich discovered that the accumulation of an inactive form of the GRK2 protein may be a key factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease. The study showed that the GRK2 protein, which normally supports the functioning of nerve cells and the heart, begins to accumulate in the brains of people with dementia when it becomes inactive.