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Many studies have shown that dementia and diabetes are linked. Patients with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. So how does this disease affect memory?1. Related concepts of diabetes and dementia
Age-related memory loss is different from Alzheimer's disease or degenerative diseases caused by other chronic diseases. Many recent studies show an association between high blood sugar (diabetes) and Alzheimer's disease. Diabetes is a disease characterized by high blood sugar levels, which occurs when the pancreas reduces the production of the hormone insulin that regulates blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes (the body has antibodies against insulin-producing cells in the pancreas) and type 2 diabetes (the pancreas does not produce insulin, cannot regulate blood sugar, has long-term effects on the brain).
Memory loss is a normal phenomenon in old age. Common symptoms are forgetting names, misplacing objects,... These symptoms do not affect daily activities. More severe symptoms of memory impairment include:
Forgetting common words; Repeat questions with the same content; Or get lost, don't remember the way; Erratic mood swings.
2. Memory impairment in people with type 2 diabetes
Neurological complications of diabetes are quite common. Studies show that people with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. They also have a higher risk of dementia - memory loss caused by damage to blood vessels and poor blood flow to the brain. In addition, they are more likely to have mild cognitive impairment, memory problems, etc. However, it is still unclear why people with diabetes are at high risk of dementia miss.
Diabetes damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of stroke. This makes the patient more susceptible to dementia. The link between the effects of diabetes on memory is also related to insulin resistance. In people with diabetes, the body doesn't use the hormone insulin well, which moves from the blood into the cells. Some scientists think that people with diabetes may have insulin resistance in the brain. Humans need insulin to ensure healthy brain cells. Insulin resistance can damage brain cells, causing memory loss.
Người mắc tiểu đường loại 2 có nguy cơ mắc Alzheimer cao hơn
3. Advice for Diabetics
Diabetics need good control of blood sugar to protect blood vessels, prevent complications such as nerve damage, kidney disease and impaired vision. However, you need to be careful not to reduce the amount of sugar excessively. If blood sugar is too low, it can also damage memory and nerves. Therefore, you need to talk with your doctor about making sure to keep your blood sugar levels stable.
Diabetics also need to pay attention to stay away from factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease because problems with the heart and blood vessels can lead to memory loss. You should monitor your blood pressure, make sure your cholesterol is well controlled.
At the same time, the patient should maintain exercise habits. You can reap many health benefits from your exercise routine. Several studies of people at risk for Alzheimer's show that exercise can slow the progression of the disease. Therefore, patients should try to walk at least 30 minutes/day or exercise at a moderate intensity.
Finally, you need to control your body weight. Patients with type 2 diabetes need to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight. Some studies show that obesity in middle age puts people at risk of dementia later in life. Meanwhile, losing just 5-10% of your body weight will help you prevent diabetes, control risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and avoid the risk of memory loss. You can lose weight through exercise, changing your diet,...
Memory loss in people with diabetes can be completely controlled if the patient pays attention to maintaining body weight and blood sugar is stable.
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Reference source: webmd.com
