- A University of Liverpool–led study links post-meal blood sugar spikes to a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer's disease later in life.
- Published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, the research analyzed genetic and health data from more than 350,000 adults in the U.K. Biobank.
- Using Mendelian randomization, researchers found that higher postprandial blood glucose was associated with a 69% increased risk of Alzheimer's.
- The link was not explained by brain size or white-matter damage, suggesting more subtle biological mechanisms may be involved.
- The findings build on earlier research, including a 2019 New England Journal of Medicine study, reinforcing evidence that blood sugar control, especially after meals, may be key to protecting long-term brain health.
Researchers have identified a potential link between spikes in blood sugar after meals and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, adding new insight into how metabolic health may influence long-term brain function.
In a study led by scientists at the University of Liverpool and published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, researchers found that people who experience higher post-meal blood sugar levels face a substantially greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life.
BrightU.AI's Enoch notes that Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory, thinking and behavior. It is characterized by the gradual decline of cognitive functions, leading to significant impairments in daily life and ultimately death.
The team analyzed genetic and health data from more than 350,000 adults aged 40 to 69 enrolled in the U.K. Biobank, a large biomedical database. Researchers examined several markers of how the body regulates glucose, including fasting blood sugar, insulin levels and blood glucose measured two hours after eating.
Using a method known as Mendelian randomization, which leverages genetic variants to assess potential cause-and-effect relationships, the researchers tested whether these glucose-related traits were likely to play a direct role in dementia risk.
Their analysis showed that individuals with higher postprandial blood glucose had a 69% increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. The association was not explained by reductions in overall brain volume or damage to white matter, suggesting the effect may involve more subtle biological processes within the brain.
Link between rising blood sugar and higher dementia risk
Previous research has consistently linked hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes to cognitive decline and dementia.
In a 2019 study by The New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers found that higher blood sugar levels were associated with an increased risk of dementia, even among people who had not been diagnosed with diabetes. The research, led by Dr. David Nathan of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital's Diabetes Center and Clinical Research Center, examined blood sugar measurements from more than 2,000 adults with an average age of 76, most of whom were not diabetic.
Researchers found that dementia risk rose steadily with increasing blood sugar levels, with higher readings linked to greater potential damage to brain health.
Although the precise biological mechanisms remain unclear, the authors suggested that elevated blood sugar may contribute to vascular disease, which can impair blood flow to the brain. Metabolic factors, including insulin resistance that affects how brain cells function, may also play a role.
The biological pathways behind these associations have remained unclear. However, the new findings point specifically to post-meal blood sugar spikes as a possible driver of neurodegenerative risk.
The researchers at the University of Liverpool concluded that the work underscores the growing evidence that metabolic health and brain health are closely intertwined, and that targeting blood sugar control may offer new avenues for preventing neurodegenerative disease.
Watch this video to learn more about dementia risks and cognitive health.
This video is from the Wellness Talk channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
DOM-Pubs.Pericles-Prod.LiteratumOnline.com
Please contact us for more information.