SWEDEN: High Blood Sugar May Escalate Alzheimer's Disease

MADRID, Spain (Xinhua - People's Daily), July 20, 2006: People with high blood sugar levels may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, said researchers from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. The researchers presented the findings of the study at the Alzheimers Association's 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders in Melia, Madrid, held July 16 thru 20, 2006. The study, included 1,173 people aged 75 and older for 9 years, found that the risk of developing dementia was highest in people with pre-diabetes who had high blood pressure as well. The condition with high blood sugar levels that is not yet in the established diabetes range is called pre-diabetes. Researchers said that people with higher than normal blood sugar levels could be at an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease at a later stage. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among older people. It usually starts after 60 years of age and the risk increases as people age. People afflicted with Alzheimer's disease may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. The disease develops gradually and a person might live for 8 to 10 years after initial diagnosis, but can stretch up to 20 years. There is no treatment for the disease although some drugs can delay the symptoms from getting worse. Copyright by People's Daily