Many people may not know this but a link that connects Alzheimer’s and diabetes (type 2) has recently been discovered. Scientists are conducting more research to validate those claims. It’s looking more and more likely that we could call Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes.
Diabetes happens when the body fails to produce insulin or is unable to use the insulin in a proper way. Insulin helps to regulate glucose. If insulin doesn’t work, glucose will build up.
There are over 100 million American adults with diabetes or prediabetes, according to a new report released by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. If left untreated, diabetes could develop into something more severe. Excessive blood sugar (Glucose) could cause damage to many organs such as the brain.
Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, affects more than 5 million Americans as of 2018. There’s no telling how much the number will rise as people enter their 60s. Studies have shown that people with Type 2 Diabetes have a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Why We Call Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes?
Cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, damaged blood vessels, hypertension, circulation problems, and heart diseases that have been associated with Alzheimer’s are also associated with Diabetes.
A new study conducted by the researchers at Albany University in New York showed that Alzheimer’s is actually the late stage of Type 2 Diabetes. One of the researchers, Edward McNay, at Albany University said:
“People who develop diabetes have to realize this is about more than controlling their weight or diet. It’s also the first step on the road to cognitive decline. At first, they won’t be able to keep up with their kids playing games, but in 30 years’ time they may not even recognize them.”
An Alternate View
A professor at the New York University, Melissa Schillings, also performed her own study connecting the Alzheimer’s with diabetes. She sought to eliminate the confusion between two different happenings. People with Type 2 Diabetes have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s in the late stages which implies that high insulin levels have something to do with the development of Alzheimer’s. On the other hand, people with Type 1 Diabetes also have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s although only a small amount of insulin is produced – or none at all – in people with this type of Diabetes.
Professor Schillings theorized that insulin-degrading enzyme could play a role. The enzyme breaks down insulin and amyloid proteins that clump up in the brain and causes Alzheimer’s. People with type 2 diabetes use the remaining insulin-degrading enzyme in the body to break up the excess insulin from the treatment. Furthermore, people who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes only produce enough enzymes to break down the little insulin the body produces. Both circumstances leave no extra enzyme to address the amyloid clumps that are developing in the brain. This theory by Professor Schillings was supported by Rosebud Roberts who is a professor of epidemiology and neurology at the Mayo Clinic.
Further Studies Support the Idea of Naming Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes
Another research study conducted by British researchers and their colleagues from Peking University Clinical Institute in Beijing also linked diabetes to dementia. The participants of the experiment had an average age of 66 and a blood glucose level ranging from 3.6 to 13.7 percent. A reading of 6.5 is considered to be diabetic. The results of their data showed that early detection and intervention for diabetes might decrease the risk of cognitive decline over time. According to Wuxiang Xie of the Imperial University in London, studying the risk factors for dementia is vital since currently, there’s still no cure for it.
Further research is still being conducted as of today (2018) but the evidence from the previous studies strongly suggest that both diseases are connected. The mechanism is still poorly understood.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s and Diabetes
There is currently no cure for Diabetes and Alzheimer’s as of the moment. Great strides in nutritional science however, have made it easier to at least control, and even to reverse Diabetes. There are many things we can do to avoid or lessen Alzheimer’s and diabetes from happening.
Exercise Regularly
Being physically active can benefit you in a lot of ways. For one it can help improve your circulation. Another advantage of exercising is it decreases the risk of a person developing Alzheimer’s disease. One of the main factors that contributes to the condition of patients is that most of them are physically inactive. Exercising can also improve cognitive reasoning, judgment, and thinking skills and keep the brain sharp.
Eat a Healthy, Low-Fat Diet
The key technique in preventing Diabetes from developing further is a healthy diet. Stick to a regular meal-time and avoid eating foods with high sugar content. Instead, opt for fiber-rich foods, proteins and low amounts of healthy carbs, such as fruits, veggies, legumes, and whole grains.
At A Paradise for Parents assisted living homes, we do our best to feed your loved one regular home-cooked, nutritious meals.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being obese is one of the major risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes, and having it progress to Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes. It accounts for 80% to 85% of the people diagnosed with both types of Diabetes.
Extra fat causes the body to release inflammatory chemicals that cause the body’s insulin-responsive cells to become less sensitive. This could lead to the development of insulin resistance which is a precursor to Type 2 Diabetes.
Quit Smoking
Smokers have a higher chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s (Type 3 Diabetes) than people who don’t. Smoking triggers oxidative stress which causes the free radicals damage the body which increases the risk of diabetes. Further studies have also indicated that smoking increases abdominal fat which causes insulin resistance.
Replace Sodas and Juices with Water
Water contains zero sugar and zero calories. It is by far the most natural thing you can consume to prevent the development of Diabetes. Drinks such as soda and juice have high sugar content. It’s also known to increase the risk of developing Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA or Type 1 1/2 Diabetes).
It’s also important to do a routine check-up with your physician. This way, the development of diabetes would be prevented, as well as the development of Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes disease.
If you want to know more about Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes link, give us a call. Although we are not Doctors, we have a very large network of health care professionals that might be able to help. At A Paradise for Parents our staff and our resources will do our best to answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.com to know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online form located on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.
