Recent studies show an important connection between diabetes and dementia. A Japanese study published by The American Academy of Neurology [http://neurology.org] showed that people with type 2 diabetes were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia as those without. Dementia was also found in people who were not able to control blood sugar levels, but who had not yet been diagnosed with diabetes. Dementia, a loss of mental function and poor memory, occurred more often in elderly people when there were big swings in blood sugar levels after eating. Another study, presented by the American Academy of Neurology [American Academy of Neurology], found that memory loss in the elderly was caused by poorly managed diabetes, and that those who monitored blood glucose levels were at less risk. It appears that recommended diet and lifestyle changes can be helpful in preventing both diabetes and dementia.

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