High blood glucose linked to dementia even without diabetes

Higher blood glucose levels, shy of the diabetic range, increase the risk for dementia in adults, new data from the longitudinal Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study suggest by Paul K. Crane, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle. The study is published in the August 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Among participants without diabetes, higher average glucose levels within the preceding 5 years were associated with increased risk for dementia.

At a glucose level of 115 mg/dL, as compared with 100 mg/dL, the adjusted hazard ratio for dementia was 1.18.

Higher average glucose levels were also related to an increased risk for dementia in those with diabetes. At a glucose level of 190 mg/dL, as compared with 160 mg/dL, the adjusted hazard ratio for dementia risk was 1.40.