Diabetes or high blood sugar
Type 2 diabetes raises dementia risk by a quarter to nearly double across pooled studies, through vascular damage and insulin resistance in the brain.
One analysis that pools the results of many studies, so no single odd result can carry the conclusion.
Why it matters
Blood sugar control through diet, exercise and medication reduces the vascular damage that accelerates cognitive decline.
What to ask at the checkup
Ask whether an A1c test is due and what the target range should be
Screening: HbA1c test
Sources
Diabetes mellitus and risks of cognitive impairment and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies
Xue M, Xu W, Ou Y et al.. Ageing Research Reviews, 2019.
Diabetes raised the chance of dementia by a quarter to nearly double, and even prediabetes added risk.
Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission
Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY et al.. The Lancet, 2024.
Fourteen things people can change account for nearly half of dementia cases at the population level.
Routines for this factor
Walk ten minutes after the largest meal
After the biggest meal of the day, walk for ten minutes.
10 min, difficulty 1/3
Water instead of juice or soda at one meal
Serve water instead of juice, soda, or sweetened tea at one meal today.
1 min, difficulty 1/3
This is research information, not medical advice. Nothing here replaces your parent's doctor.