Diabetes may raise Alzheimer’s risk through brain glucose disruption: report
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Emerging research is strengthening evidence that diabetes and poor blood sugar control can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting a growing intersection between two major public health challenges.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, most commonly Alzheimer’s.
At the same time, India faces a diabetes epidemic, with over 100 million adults affected, according to estimates from the International Diabetes Federation.
Scientists are increasingly focusing on insulin resistance and glucose instability as contributors to cognitive decline. Several large studies indicate that people with Type 2 diabetes face a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s, as impaired insulin signalling may reduce the brain’s ability to use glucose efficiently, leading to gradual neuronal damage.
Some researchers have gone so far as to describe Alzheimer’s as “Type 3 diabetes” because of this disrupted insulin response in the brain.
Continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM, allows doctors to track fluctuations more precisely and intervene earlier.
High blood sugar has been linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular damage in the brain.
Studies cited by the Alzheimer’s Association suggest hyperglycaemia may also promote the build-up of beta-amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Long-term glucose instability may affect people with Type 1 diabetes as well, particularly as they age.
CGM systems, which track glucose levels in real time, are increasingly seen as a tool not only for diabetes management but also for protecting cognitive health. Such technology can help caregivers and doctors respond quickly to dangerous glucose changes, especially in older adults with memory issues.
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, experts stress that managing blood sugar through medical supervision, diet, and physical activity may help lower future risk and preserve brain function.
