Blood glucose and lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels in your 50s may be linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life, according to new research published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
Several past studies have shown that having diabetes — especially with worse blood glucose control — is linked to a greater risk for cognitive decline and dementia. There is also evidence to suggest that at least in people with type 1 diabetes, experiencing both very high and very low blood glucose levels is linked to a greater risk for dementia. These studies suggest that for people with diabetes, aiming for good blood glucose control is one of the best ways to reduce the risk for dementia in the future. There are also many other lifestyle measures that may reduce the risk for dementia, including following a plant-based diet, consuming enough fiber, drinking coffee or tea in moderation, and getting enough physical activity.
To get cutting-edge diabetes news, strategies for blood glucose management, nutrition tips, healthy recipes, and more delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletters!
For the latest analysis, researchers looked at data from 4,932 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, a large long-term study examining behaviors related to cardiovascular health and other health outcomes. As part of this study, participants underwent health exams about every four years for most of their lives, and had health-related outcomes — including any cases of Alzheimer’s disease — assessed for an average duration of 38 years, until they stopped participating in the study or died, as noted in an article on the latest research at HealthDay.
The researchers were particularly interested in whether blood glucose or lipid levels, blood pressure, smoking status, or body-mass index (BMI, a measure of body weight that takes height into account) at various stages in life was linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later on. In examining these potential connections, the researchers adjusted for participants’ age, sex, and education level — factors that have been shown to be related to the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. They performed this analysis within three different age groups for the initial measurements — 35-50, 51-60, and 61-70.
HDL cholesterol, blood glucose linked to future Alzheimer’s risk
The researchers found that a 15 mg/dl increase in HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or “good”) cholesterol during both earlier adulthood and middle adulthood was linked to a lower overall risk for Alzheimer’s disease in life. This increase in HDL cholesterol during ages 35-50 was linked to a 15.4% lower Alzheimer’s risk, and during ages 51-60 it was linked to a 17.9% lower Alzheimer’s risk. The researchers also found that during ages 51-60, a 15 mg/dl increase in blood glucose was linked to a 14.5% increase in the risk for Alzheimer’s disease throughout life. No other significant links to Alzheimer’s disease were found from the other health measurements within any particular age group.
“Our findings suggest that careful management of cholesterol and glucose beginning in early adulthood can lower [Alzheimer’s disease] risk,” the researchers concluded. They also noted that both blood lipid and glucose levels — but especially glucose levels — during earlier adulthood or middle adulthood may be linked to forms of dementia other than Alzheimer’s, but studies involving larger numbers of participants than the current one are needed to look into this question.
Want to learn more about maintaining cognitive health with diabetes? Read “Nine Tips to Keep Your Memory With Diabetes,” “Keeping Your Brain Strong With Diabetes” and “Memory Fitness: How to Get It, How to Keep It.”
