Study: Young Diabetics at Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado has found that young people with diabetes face a greater likelihood of developing Alzheimer‘s disease later in life.
The scientists discovered that young individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes show specific blood markers indicating early signs of Alzheimer‘s, which are not observed in young non-diabetics.
The study, conducted by the Center for Epidemiology of Obesity and Diabetes (LEAD) at the University of Colorado, revealed that these young people have elevated accumulations of amyloid proteins in brain regions associated with Alzheimer‘s.
Alison Shapiro, assistant professor of pediatrics and endocrinology and the study’s lead author, stated: “Preliminary evidence suggests that presymptomatic neurological diseases are present in young individuals with diabetes.”
She added, “These data indicate the potential emergence of a diabetes risk pathway earlier in individuals diagnosed with diabetes in childhood or adolescence.”
Most previous studies have focused on the relationship between Alzheimer‘s and diabetes in people over the age of forty, showing that they have a 60% to 80% greater likelihood of developing dementia and Alzheimer‘s compared to their non-diabetic peers.
The new study included a younger group of 80 individuals under the age of 25 and used positron emission tomography (PET) scans to analyze blood biomarkers.
These findings are concerning due to the high rates of obesity among young people in the United States, where 20% suffer from severe obesity, increasing the risk of diabetes.
Given the small sample size of the study, the researchers emphasized the need for further research to confirm these results. Alison Shapiro and her colleagues hope to secure funding to continue monitoring the same group as they age, to better understand the risks and provide physicians with valuable insights into the care of young diabetics.
