Health

Diabetes linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 7, 2004

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The cognitive problems sometimes associated with diabetes may also lead to the development of Alzheimer's, according to a paper published in the Archives of Neurology last month.

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago followed participants in the Religious Orders Study, which includes hundreds of Catholic nuns and priests, for nine years correlating the development of blood sugar problems with that of Alzheimer's. Those with diabetes made up just more than 15% of the overall study group, but more than 20% of this group went on to develop the brain disease.

Authors of the paper adjusted for age, sex and educational level to find that those with diabetes had a 65% increased risk of developing this form of cognitive impairment.

Those with diabetes also started the study with a lower cognitive function. All participants have agreed to donate their brains at deaths and researchers are hoping to explore further the connection of diabetes to cognitive decline.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/06/07/hlbf0607.htm.

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