High Blood Sugar May Add to Alzheimer's Risk: Study | WPN World People News

Elevated blood sugar levels may increase a person's risk for Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.

Previous research has suggested that diabetes may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's, but researchers wanted to examine if high blood sugar levels in people without diabetes may also increase the chances of developing Alzheimer's.

The study included 124 people, aged 47 to 68, who were diabetes-free and had normal brain function, but did have a family history of Alzheimer's. The participants underwent scans that revealed metabolic activity in the brain.

People with Alzheimer's disease show reduced brain metabolism in certain brain regions. A similar pattern of lower metabolism in these same brain regions was seen in study participants with high blood sugar levels.

Expert hopes the findings will be useful in ongoing work designed to develop early Alzheimer's interventions.

A lot of valuable research is focused on treatment and slowing decline in Alzheimer's patients. it's interested in complementing this work with interventions that can be implemented earlier on, perhaps at middle age.

About 5 percent of Americans aged 65 to 74 have Alzheimer's, and nearly half of those aged 85 and older may have the progressive brain disease. Known factors that contribute to the disease include age and genetics, but it is also believed that high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes may increase risk.

Source: HealthDay News