Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it produces effectively. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which develops exclusively in pregnancy when blood sugar levels are too high.
However, another type of diabetes, type 3 diabetes, has been linked to Alzheimer’s.
Insulin helps control blood sugar levels by enabling glucose to enter cells. Insulin also affects metabolism, nerve cells, how neurons communicate, and the brain’s cognitive functions.
When a person develops insulin resistance, it can reduce the supply of glucose to the brain and cause changes to the protein involved in the development of dementia called tau. Additionally, the brain can become damaged, and the connection between the regions of the brain can be weakened when it doesn’t receive a sufficient amount of glucose.
Type 3 diabetes occurs when the brain becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. This insulin resistance is believed to lead to symptoms that are commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
It is important to note that type 3 diabetes isn’t officially recognized by the American Diabetes Association and other major health organizations. However, some experts have called Alzheimer’s disease type 3 diabetes because of the pathological implications that address a major decrease in glucose levels and how that affects brain cognition and memory.
Researchers call Alzheimer’s type 3 diabetes due to the similar features that are present in diabetes, memory deficits, and a decline in thinking abilities in older adults. A study in 2020 listed the potential risk factors for developing type 3 diabetes, such as:
- A diet that is high in calories, sugar, and fat, but low in fiber
- A low socioeconomic status
- Exposure to stress
- Race and ethnicity
- A lack of physical activity
- Genetics
- Family history
- Birth weight
The study also indicated that high blood pressure and impaired lipid, or fat, transportation play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Society notes that diabetes is a risk factor for developing dementia.
Although there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s and many other types of dementia, treatment for the disease includes medications that slow the progression of the condition or treat its symptoms.
It is important to note that there is another type of diabetes known as type 3c diabetes mellitus that occurs when endocrine dysfunction affects the pancreas, such as damage to the exocrine glands, which harms the endocrine glands. This condition is distinctive and shouldn’t be confused with type 3 diabetes.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s, you can receive treatment from a neurologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.