“More basic research is critical.”
Several scientific studies, but not all, link type 2 diabetes with Alzheimer’s disease. Some go so far as to say Alzheimer’s is type 3 diabetes.
My Twitter feed brought to my attention a scientific article I thought would clarify the relationships between diabetes, carbohydrate consumption, and Alzheimer’s dementia (full text).
It didn’t.
Click the full text link to read all about insulin, amylin, insulin degrading enzyme, amyloid–β, and other factors that might explain the relationship between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s dementia. You’ll also find a comprehensive annotated list of the scientific studies investigating the link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Bottom line: We still don’t know the fundamental cause of Alzheimer’s disease. A cure and highly effective preventive measures are far in the future.
Action Plan For You
You may be able to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by:
- avoiding type 2 diabetes
- preventing progression of prediabetes to diabetes
- avoiding obesity
- exercising regularly
- eating a Mediterranean-style diet
Carbohydrate restriction helps many folks prevent or resolve obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes.
Reference: Schilling, Melissa. Unraveling Alzheimer’s: Making Sense of the Relationship Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 51 (2016): 961-977.
LCHF Mediterranean diet
Diabetic Mediterranean Diet 
Don’t some refer to Alzheimer’s as “Type 3 diabetes”?
Yes. I’m not convinced yet that it’s a helpful concept.
I’m curious if you tell your patients that the best way to avoid tetanus is to never step on a rusty nail?
That advice would indeed prevent some cases of tetanus.