Diabetics,
including those who become diagnosed in middle age, have more than
double the risk of acquiring Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia later
in life, new research shows.
"Our
results highlighted the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle during
adulthood in order to reduce the risk of dementia late in life,"
said Dr. Margaret Gatz, director of the Study of Dementia in Swedish
Twins.
Those
who got diabetes before the age of 65 were 125% more likely to
acquire Alzheimer's, Gatz said. Study results were published in last
month's issue of the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes.