A new study underscores the need to keep blood glucose (sugar) lower in all individuals, not just diabetics. It found that higher glucose levels in non-diabetics increase the risk for dementia. Researchers from the University of Washington published the study on August 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The researchers note that diabetes is a risk factor for dementia; however, it is unknown whether higher glucose levels increase the risk of dementia in individuals without diabetes. Thus, they conducted a study that evaluated dementia risk and glucose among non-diabetics. The study group comprised 2,067 participants without dementia. They used 35,264 clinical measurements of glucose levels and 10,208 measurements of glycated hemoglobin levels to examine the relationship between glucose levels and the risk of dementia. The subjects were from the Adult Changes in Thought study and included 839 men and 1228 women whose average age at baseline was 76 years. Among these individuals, 232 participants had diabetes, and 1835 did not. The investigators conducted a statistical analysis, stratified according to diabetes status and adjusted for age, sex, education level, level of exercise, blood pressure, and status with respect to coronary and cerebrovascular diseases, atrial fibrillation, smoking, and treatment for hypertension.
The investigators found that during an average follow-up of 6.8 years, dementia developed in 524 participants (74 with diabetes and 450 without). Among participants without diabetes, higher average glucose levels within the preceding five years were related to an increased risk of dementia. A glucose level of 115 mg per deciliter compared with 100 mg per deciliter was found to have a 1.18-fold increased risk. In addition, among participants with diabetes, higher average glucose levels were also related to an increased risk of dementia; with a glucose level of 190 mg per deciliter as compared with 160 mg per deciliter, a 1.4-fold increased risk was found.
The authors concluded that their results suggested that higher glucose levels may be a risk factor for dementia, even among persons without diabetes. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health NIH).
Take home message:
One can maintain a lower blood glucose level by healthy lifestyle choices. Consuming complex carbohydrates rather than refined sugar products such as a sugary drinks prevents spikes in blood sugar. Also, exercising burns glucose; thus, lowering the blood glucose level.
Credit : Dr. Vikas Dua (Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist, Hematologist, Hemato Oncologist- 13 Years of Experience)
