On the surface, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease appear to be entirely independent conditions. After all, one occurs when the body cannot efficiently convert glucose into energy anymore, and the other stems from cognitive decline.
Experts are now realizing, however, that the two illnesses might have more in common than previously believed. Several studies are emerging which propose a possible link between insulin resistance, associated with diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes mellitus is an ailment in which a person’s body has difficulty utilizing sugar. It generally falls into one of three categories:
- Type 1 diabetes: an autoimmune condition, usually setting in during childhood, in which the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, causing blood sugar levels to become abnormally high
- Type 2 diabetes: a disease state resulting from insulin resistance. This phenomenon happens when blood levels of the hormone remain chronically elevated due to cells no longer being able to accept and receive it
- Gestational diabetes: a temporary condition in which blood sugar becomes too high during pregnancy and usually reverses after delivery
Elevated blood sugars contribute to inflammation, which further causes sugars to rise in a vicious cycle. Type 1 and gestational diabetics must inject insulin to keep their glucose in the normal range. Some type 2 sufferers can manage their condition with adequate diet, exercise, and stress management.
SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES
Type 1:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Bedwetting in children who didn’t do so previously
- Extreme hunger
- Unintentional weight loss
- Irritability and other changes in mood
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Blurred vision
These signs can develop rapidly and almost always occur in childhood.
Type 2:
Many type 2 diabetes symptoms overlap with those of type 1, apart from a select few. These include:
Slow healing of cuts and wounds. This occurs because blood circulation is impaired due to high serum glucose levels, damaging the body’s nerves and blood vessels. (1.)
Tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet. Known as neuropathy, this condition is one of the most common complications resulting from diabetes. In addition, poor circulation makes this situation progressively worse without treatment.
Dark skin patches around the neck, armpits, and/or groin. These soft, velvety areas are called acanthosis nigricans and are usually associated with severe cases of insulin resistance.
Yeast infections. Yeast feeds on excess sugar in the body, which can lead to disease. This uncomfortable condition tends to occur in warm, moist areas of the skin, such as the mouth, genitalia, and armpits. An affected person may experience itching, burning, redness, and soreness.
WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S?
A type of dementia accounting for 60-80% of diagnosed cases, Alzheimer’s is an umbrella term encompassing loss of memory and other cognitive abilities. Most people with the condition are over 65 years of age. However, more than 200,000 Americans have younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that steadily gets worse. Symptoms are subtle at first. However, a late-stage patient typically loses the ability to converse. The average prognosis after diagnosis is 6-8 years of life, and Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in America. (2.)
While there is no current cure for Alzheimer’s, treatments are available to manage symptoms and give those suffering an improved quality of life. Experts are continually searching for how the disease can be treated, delayed, and even prevented.
SYMPTOMS OF ALZHEIMER’S
Memory loss is the most common and well-known sign of Alzheimer’s. But the disease presents with many other symptoms–some of which are more difficult to pinpoint unless actively being monitored (3.) These include:
Changes in planning or solving problems
Examples of this may consist of difficulty concentrating and trouble following recipes or keeping track of bills.
Lessened ability to complete familiar tasks
These might take place at work, home, or anywhere else the person frequents.
Losing track of time or place
Some people with Alzheimer’s have difficulty comprehending the past and future. Instead, they can only understand the present moment. They might also forget where they are and/or how they arrived there.
Vision problems
New or worsening vision problems should always be taken seriously in the elderly, as they can be a sign of Alzheimer’s. The person might have trouble reading signs and judging distance, which can render driving dangerous.
Difficulty speaking or writing
Those who have Alzheimer’s may struggle to find the correct word, often referring to things by the wrong name. They might also repeat themselves or stop mid-conversation to gather their thoughts.
Misplacing items
Alzheimer’s patients frequently put things in strange places, usually to hide them from people they have accused of stealing. It isn’t uncommon for the person to forget where they placed the items and have difficulty relocating them.
Poor decision-making skills
The elderly in general, are more susceptible to scams and telemarketers, but especially those with Alzheimer’s. In addition to giving away large sums of money, people with Alzheimer’s might also express decreased hygiene and pay less attention to taking care of themselves.
Social withdrawal
Due to memory loss and the general stress of so many internal changes, a person with Alzheimer’s might begin stepping away from hobbies and/or social activities.
Mood and personality changes
Personality changes and mood swings vary from person to person. However, it isn’t uncommon for people living with Alzheimer’s to become confused, suspicious, angry, afraid, or depressed. The condition might worsen, especially when they experience a disruption in routine.
Alzheimer’s is a complex, life-altering disease, and early detection is crucial for the patient to experiment with treatments that could significantly improve their quality of life. Given the emerging research about the disease’s origins, it is even more imperative for patients to begin treatment as soon as they receive the diagnosis.
Specific lifestyle changes might have a more significant impact on the advancement of Alzheimer’s than previously believed. What was once an essential death sentence may not have such a grim prognosis after all.
WHY ALZHEIMER’S MIGHT ACTUALLY BE TYPE 3 DIABETES
Emerging research is suggesting insulin resistance may be a causative factor in the formation of Alzheimer’s. This revolutionary finding has led some people to call Alzheimer’s “diabetes in the brain.” (4.)
While this assertion is largely oversimplified, it isn’t entirely untrue. Over time, unmanaged diabetes can damage blood vessels throughout the entire body – including the brain. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of this phenomenon because diagnosis typically comes well after disease onset.
Diabetes alters brain chemistry, which can also make a person more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Additionally, elevated blood sugar levels lead to whole-body inflammation, which is known to damage brain cells. Because of this, diabetes can be a precursor to vascular dementia: a type of dementia caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain. Vascular dementia is a condition in and of itself but has the potential to develop into Alzheimer’s. (5.)
While the data linking diabetes and Alzheimer’s isn’t particularly strong at this point, it’s still a promising area of research. At this point, experts know that the two conditions can be related. However, Alzheimer’s often occurs independently of diabetes.
RISK FACTORS FOR AND SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 3 DIABETES
There are many known risk factors for Alzheimer’s or type 3 diabetes. However, the most common of them include:
Being a woman with type 2 diabetes. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are up to 60% more likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s. Of these people, women have a higher chance.
- A family history of diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Health conditions such as PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 3 DIABETES
Symptoms of type 3 diabetes are akin to those of dementia and Alzheimer’s. These include:
- Memory loss impairs one’s ability to function and lead a healthy life.
- Difficulty accomplishing familiar tasks.
- Regularly misplacing items.
- Poor judgment.
- Sudden personality or behavioral shifts.
HOW CAN TYPE 3 DIABETES BE TREATED?
Alzheimer’s disease has no known cure. However, its recent linkage to insulin resistance could open new doors regarding treatment options. The ketogenic diet is proven to reduce brain inflammation, leading researchers to suggest it may help improve memory and longevity in Alzheimer’s patients.
The mechanism by which an extremely low-carb diet lowers inflammation is complicated, but let’s sum it up in layman’s terms. Essentially, without glucose as readily available energy in the body, the system activates a specific protein and proceeds to turn off inflammatory genes. Scientists are even discussing the development of a drug that could mimic this effect without the patient having to follow such a strict nutritional protocol.
Other lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and quitting tobacco, may also be helpful. Additionally, some medications target both insulin resistance and the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON HOW ALZHEIMER’S MIGHT BE TYPE 3 DIABETES
Alzheimer’s disease is a heartbreaking complication of old age that affects up to 5.8 million Americans, while an estimated 9.4% of the population suffers from diabetes. Recent findings are leading experts to believe that the former, previously recognized as a cognitive disorder alone, might actually be a form of insulin resistance.
This emerging research is up-and-coming because it paves the way for an entirely different avenue of treatment. Lifestyle changes such as weight loss, giving up tobacco, and following a ketogenic diet could prove fruitful in at least slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s.
