Glucose Levels and Risk of Dementia

From the New England Journal of Medicine

Higher glucose levels are associated with increased dementia risk, according to a prospective cohort study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers followed roughly 2100 people aged 65 and older who were free of dementia at baseline. Over a median follow-up of 6.8 years, patients had at least five measurements of glucose or glycated hemoglobin taken. About a quarter of patients developed dementia.

For all participants, the risk for dementia increased with increasing glucose readings. For patients without diabetes, an average glucose level of 115 mg/dL was associated with an 18% higher risk for dementia, compared with a level of 100 mg/dL. For those with diabetes, 190 mg/dL was associated with a 40% increased risk, relative to 160 mg/dL.

The authors speculate that microvascular disease of the central nervous system could contribute to the association.

Read the free abstract:  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1215740