Blood Sugar and Dementia

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in November , 2013 confirms what other studies are beginning to show: high blood glucose levels, even without diabetes, increases the risk for dementia. 2,000 patients with a mean age of 76 years, were followed for 7 years. 200 of them started out with diabetes. Of those, the ones with blood sugar levels of 190 had a 40% higher risk of getting dementia than those with a blood sugar level of 160. Interestingly though, those with blood sugar levels of 115, which is above normal but not yet considered diabetes (diabetes officially begins with a blood sugar level os 126) had a 20% increased risk of developing diabetes compared to those with a level of 100, considered normal. Other studies have shown that even high normal, so levels in the high 90s, confers a slightly higher risk of dementia.