Study suggests stronger dementia link in type 1 diabetes

People with type 1 diabetes may face a higher risk of developing dementia, according to new research published in Neurology. 

The study, published last night (18th March), found both type 1 and type 2 diabetes were linked to an increased likelihood of dementia compared with people without the condition.

However, researchers stressed the findings show an association rather than a direct cause.

Type 1 diabetes – an illness caused by your body not making enough insulin – is less common than type 2, making up around 5% of cases. 

Unlike type 2, type 1 diabetes usually develops suddenly, often in children and young adults, while the former tends to develop more gradually, typically in adults over 40. 

‘As advances in medical care have extended the lives of people with type 1 diabetes, it’s becoming increasingly important to understand the relation of type 1 diabetes to the risk of dementia,’ Jennifer Weuve, lead author of the study said. ‘We have known that type 2 diabetes is linked to an increased risk of dementia, but this new research suggests that, unfortunately, the association may be even stronger for those with type 1 diabetes.’

Researchers analysed 283,772 people with an average age of 64 and followed them for about 2.4 years. Of these, 5,442 had type 1 diabetes and 51,511 had type 2. 

During the study, 2,348 people developed dementia. This included 2.6% of those with type 1 diabetes, 1.8% of those with type 2 diabetes and 0.6% of people without the condition. 

After taking into account factors such as age and education, researchers said people with type 1 diabetes were nearly three times more likely to develop dementia than those without the condition. People with type 2 diabetes were about twice as likely.

Weuve said an estimated 65% of dementia cases among people with type 1 diabetes in the study could be linked to the condition. 

‘Type 1 diabetes is not common, so this condition accounts for a small fraction of all dementia cases,’ she said. ‘But for the growing number of people with type 1 diabetes who are over 65 years old, these findings underscore the urgency of understanding the ways in which type 1 diabetes influences dementia risk and how we can prevent or delay it.’ 

The researchers said one limitation of the study, which can be read in full here, is that it used health records and survey data, which may not include every diagnosis.

Image: Elena Leya/UnSplash 

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