Diabetes and dementia

It is well known that diabetes is a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment, vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease and previous studies have shown that people with diabetes are 1.5 times more likely to experience cognitive decline and develop dementia than those without the condition. Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Centre studied nearly 3,000 people aged 55 and over. They measured their blood sugar levels and gave them a 30-minute series of tests to measure their cognitive performance. The study found that a 1% increase in average blood glucose levels corresponded to slightly lower scores for psychomotor speed, cognitive function, memory and multi-tasking ability.

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090211101723.htm