Two for one

Preventing cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s may be as simple as avoiding adult-onset diabetes.

My father is notoriously frugal (in fact, some of our relatives use much less euphemistic terms to describe him). But I’ve grown to appreciate his knack for getting the most for his money, and find that I’m also always on the lookout for the best values. “Twofers” — getting two items for the price of one — are one of my dad’s favorite bargains, and I happened upon one recently that may be one of the best deals around. Only this one has nothing to do with money. This particular “twofer” is all about your health, and, as it turns out, focusing on avoiding one easily preventable condition may just save you from another potentially deadly disease.

According to a new study based on data collected from the Physicians Health Study and the Women’s Health Study, researchers discovered that people with type 2 diabetes are at a significantly increased risk for cognitive decline. The researchers also found that the longer a person has diabetes, the sharper the decline in mental capacity and functioning.

The researchers theorized that the link could stem from a couple of possible causes. First, diabetes may damage the blood vessels to the brain, interfering with the blood flow necessary for optimal brain function. Based on other research, they also posit that elevated insulin levels (one of the markers of type 2 diabetes) may increase levels of amyloid-beta protein in the body. Elevated levels of amyloid-beta protein can form into plaques, and these plaques are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

Now for the good news: If having type 2 diabetes increases your risk of these problems, then avoiding it would certainly help decrease your risk. And avoiding type 2 diabetes is more possible than you might think. In fact, Dr. Wright has helped thousands of patients do just that. He outlined his diabetes-prevention program in the July and August 2001 issues of Nutrition & Healing, which subscribers can download for free by visiting www.wrightnewsletter.com and logging on with the username and password listed on page 8 of your most recent newsletter. And if you already have diabetes, many of the techniques Dr. Wright shares in these articles can also help you reverse your condition — and avoid future cognitive decline at the same time.

Source:
“Diabetes linked to cognitive decline in seniors,” Reuters Health News, 6/27/08