A study published in the journal Diabetologia indicates that people with diabetes or poor control of their blood sugar have steeper rates of long-term cognitive decline compared with those with normal control of blood sugar,
The study involved more than 5,000 British men and women aged over 50 who were evaluated over ten years.

Although cognitive function declined with age in all of the participants, compared with those with normal blood sugar control, the cognitive decline associated with prediabetes and diabetes was significantly increased.

Wuxiang Xie, of Imperial College London, said: “As there is currently no cure for dementia, early intervention on modifiable risk factors, such as diabetes, may offer an important way to prevent cognitive decline.” Dr Xie added that treating or preventing risk factors such as diabetes “could prevent up to a quarter of dementia cases”.