Why does type 2 diabetes double the risk of Alzheimer's disease?

A study presented at the XXVII National Congress of SED held in Bilbao, recalled that diabetes is the paradigm of systemic diseases and therefore requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach with the participation of professionals of all specialties.

“It is well known that diabetes correlates with an increase in the risk of developing cardiovascular and atherosclerotic disease, which accelerates its evolution, which worsens its prognosis and that multiplies the early mortality rate of cardiovascular origin.And also, the usual worsening of renal function in the person with diabetes is also assumed and the possible loss of vision is accepted as a regular consequence of this disease, ”said Edelmiro Menéndez, president of the Spanish Diabetes Society (SED).

However, complications do not end here.The negative effects of the disease "occur from head to toe," they explained.It is the case, among other consequences, an increase in the risk of Alzheimer's disease, of the amputations of the lower extremities or even periodontitis (the disease of the gums or pyorrhea).

“Even today there is great social ignorance about the effects that diabetes have on bone fragility, in the risk of the appearance of neurodegenerative diseases, in the development or aggravation of the health of gums or in the development of ulcers inThe foot ending in amputations, ”said the expert.

Thus, they highlight “the prevalence of diabetes is much higher in patients with depression (up to twice) or with schizophrenia (four times higher).And as regards dementia, insulin deficit and lower hormone sensitivity at the brain level can contribute to the pathophysiological process of Alzheimer's disease.

“Diabetes is also associated with the accumulation of Tau protein in neurons, one of the characteristic damages of Alzheimer's.The result is that patients with diabetes are twice as risk of developing this type of dementia.So, as Félix Bermejo-Paraja, neurologist at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid, refers to "preventing diabetes decreases the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's."

Likewise, diabetes corresponds to the first cause of lower limb amputations in the whole world.The reason, the name 'diabetic foot', that is, the infection, ulceration or destruction of the deep tissues that, related to neurological alterations and peripheral vascular disease in the lower extremities, can suffer patients in which diabetes is notcorrectly treated.