Jun5

Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes.. Connection?

Image of medical supplies with text that reads "Alzheimers disease"

Diabetes is an awful disease. It could cause people to lose limbs and many other physical ailments. But did you know that it is linked to Alzheimer’s Disease? A study released last fall revealed that nearly people that have diabetes are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease than non-diabetics. An interesting article about this is found at CNN.com.

How scary is that?! Given the obesity epidemic in this country, the writing is on the wall for increased societal issues with Alzheimer’s Disease in the future. Many of us have heard of or know someone that has Alzheimer’s Disease, but what is it?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is the most common form of Dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. There is no cure and it gets worse over time. It is NOT part of the natural aging process.

So, how can you determine whether you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s Disease? There are 10 Warning Signs.

  1. Memory Loss that Disrupts Daily Life; and/or
  2. Challenges in planning or solving problems; and/or
  3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure; and/or
  4. Confusion with time or place; and/or
  5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships; and/or
  6. New problems with words in speaking or writing; and/or
  7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps; and/or
  8. Decreased or poor judgment; and/or
  9. Withdrawal from work or social activities; and/or
  10. Changes in mood and personality.

If you or a loved one has one or more of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. There are no known cures for Alzheimer’s Disease, but there are medications that can slow its progression.

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