Diabetes in elderly could triple Dementia risk

A research conducted by Alzheimer’s Research Trust scientists at King’s College London,has shown that a possible link exists between type 2 diabetes and dementia in elderly people. The study claims that diabetes, in older people with mild memory loss, triples the chances of developing into dementia. This has been published in British Journal of Psychiatry. The scientists considered 61 people aged 65 or over who had mild cognitive impairment (MCI) over a period of four years,for their study. At the end of which, 19 (31 per cent) developed dementia, two (3 per cent) reverted to normal cognitive levels, and 40 (59 per cent) remained stable. Of those who progressed to dementia, seven were diabetic.Diabetes is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease but this study is important in the aspect that it shows an association between Type 2 diabetes and the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

 Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK and his team hope to find possible treatments to prevent the progression to dementia in elderly people with MCI and diabetes.

About dementia:

Dementia is a word for a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. It is not a specific disease. People with dementia may not be able to think well enough to do normal activities, such as getting dressed or eating. They may lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions. Their personalities may change. They may become agitated or see things that are not there. Memory loss is a common symptom of dementia. However, memory loss by itself does not mean you have dementia. People with dementia have serious problems with two or more brain functions, such as memory and language. Many different diseases can cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. Drugs are available to treat some of these diseases. While these drugs cannot cure dementia or repair brain damage, they may improve symptoms or slow down the disease.