Diabetes mellitus and dementia

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between diabetes mellitus, cognitive impairment and dementia. The risk of dementia is positively associated with the duration and insufficient treatment of diabetes. Diabetes promotes neuropathological changes observed in Alzheimers disease. Microangiopathy and pathological angiogenesis induce chronic inflammation and cerebral hypoxia. Oxidative stress directly causes cell damage and glycation leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. Both insulin and beta amyloid are substrates of an insulin-degrading enzyme which explains decreased beta amyloid degradation in cases of hyperinsulinemia. All these processes promote the formation of beta amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein. Antidiabetic therapies, such as change of lifestyle, metformin, insulin sensitizers and insulin, are currently being investigated. Due to the high burden of disease effective prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus could translate into a substantial reduction of dementia cases.     «

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between diabetes mellitus, cognitive impairment and dementia. The risk of dementia is positively associated with the duration and insufficient treatment of diabetes. Diabetes promotes neuropathological changes observed in Alzheimers disease. Microangiopathy and pathological angiogenesis induce chronic inflammation and cerebral hypoxia. Oxidative stress directly causes cell damage and glycation leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. Both insul...     »