Blood-sugar levels can affect the brain, find two new studies. Therefore, it is considered that diabetes could be a significant risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Researchers at Washington University in St Louis carried out a study on mice and it has been found that when blood sugar increases to abnormally high levels then they can lead to increased production of amyloid beta in brain. It is a protein considered to be important for Alzheimer’s disease.

In the second research by the researchers of University of Pittsburgh, it was found that type-1 diabetes patients have more brain lesions, reduced cognitive function in comparison with people without disease.

The University of Pittsburgh study was carried out on around 180 middle-aged people. After carrying out the study, it was found that type-1 diabetes led to more brain lesions called hyperintensities than people without diabetes. These people did not perform well in cognitive function tests.

In the Washington University study, mice brains were genetically engineered so that they resemble brains of humans with Alzheimer’s disease. It was noticed that high doses of sugar after several hours led to increased levels of amyloid beta in brain cells. But it is said that more research is needed in the matter.

Suzanne Craft, professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine, has suggested that the best way for people with type-2-diabetes to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s is exercise. It helps in directing the body to efficiently metabolize insulin.

In America, around 29 million people are affected by diabetes, which can also cause heart disease, blindness and death. On the other hand, not much is known about Alzheimer’s disease. There are a number of factors that can lead to dementia, like genetics and age.