Is high blood sugar tipping you closer to dementia? Why a new multi-national study may have answers
A collaboration of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, Centre for Brain Research (CBR), Bengaluru and UK Dementia Research Institute aims to improve early detection and prevention strategies
Diabetes is increasingly being recognised as a risk factor for cognitive decline such as loss of memory and concentration as well as dementia. That’s why a collaboration of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, Centre for Brain Research (CBR), Bengaluru and UK Dementia Research Institute aims to conduct large scale studies, data exchange and transnational research to improve early detection and prevention strategies.
Dr V Mohan, chairman, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, told The Indian Express that diabetes increases the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease through both uncontrolled high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) and episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). “People living with diabetes often also have hypertension, high cholesterol, triglycerides or blood fats and chronic inflammation, all of which contribute to cognitive decline. Diabetes, hence, can accelerate brain degeneration and increase the likelihood of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease as well as damage blood vessels. This may lead to strokes and vascular dementia, the last a result of blockage of blood flow to the brain,” he says.
Dr R.M. Anjana, president, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, says collaboration efforts like these are intended to combine multi-disciplinary expertise and diverse datasets to identify early indicators of brain aging in people with diabetes, paving the way for new preventive and therapeutic advances.
How diabetes increases the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
Diabetes, especially if not well-controlled, increases the risk of vascular disease, which is basically narrowing, blockage or weakness of arteries and veins, leading to reduced blood flow to organs. “It likely increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease, especially small vessel disease (a condition where the walls of the body’s small arteries become damaged, reducing blood flow to vital organs like the heart, brain, kidneys, and retina),” says Prof Henrik Zetterberg, head, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, and visiting faculty at CBR. In an email response, he explains how these obstructions may reduce the brain’s capacity to withstand brain changes related to Alzheimer’s like clusters of certain proteins (amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles). These cannot be cleared out then.
“There may also be a primary link between hyperinsulinemia (high levels of insulin) and defective amyloid beta clearance. High insulin can inhibit amyloid degradation by enzymes. This could lead to amyloid beta build-up in the brain and an increased risk of protein misfolding (when protein chains don’t fold properly and become toxic) and amyloid beta plaque formation. Exactly what is the most important process is not known and something we believe our project will give an answer to,” he writes.
Why controlling blood sugar can help protect the brain
The brain needs the right amount of glucose. “Too much makes one tired and too little can make one irritable and anxious. Very low levels (for instance if insulin is accidentally overdosed) can make one unconscious and even kill neurons. Hence controlling blood sugar helps protect blood vessels in the brain so that they can keep their ability to deliver oxygen to the brain cells. Similarly it may also prevent hyperinsulinemia. It may thereby promote clearance of amyloid beta clusters by keeping insulin levels normal,” Prof Zetterberg adds.
Why research is needed to prevent long-term impact
Prof K V S Hari, Director, Centre for Brain Research, IISc, Bengaluru, explains that while diabetes is believed to have negative effects on cognition, there is inadequate evidence from large-scale population studies. “There are research studies that indicate how diabetes could increase the risk of dementia by causing insulin resistance (a condition in which the body’s cells do not respond optimally to the hormone insulin) and chronic inflammation leading to neuronal damage. This affects how the brain uses glucose (which it needs for energy), leading to possible disturbances in brain function,” he says.
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Diabetes may also alter neurotransmitter function that further impacts mood and behaviour, according to Prof Hari. “Hence diabetes and cognitive decline have a dual relationship, where each condition can impact the other. Diabetes can increase the risk of cognitive decline, and conversely, cognitive decline can make it harder to manage diabetes due to impaired decision-making or adherence to treatment,” he says.
Diabetes is now recognised as an important risk factor, contributing about 2% to the global dementia risk, as highlighted by the Lancet Commission report of 2024. In India, the prevalence of diabetes is particularly concerning, with approximately 101 million people affected by the condition, and an additional 136 million people living with prediabetes, according to the ICMR-INDIAB study. “This high burden underscores the urgency of better prediction and management strategies to counter long-term cognitive effects,” Prof Hari says.
Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues .
Professional Background
Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature.
Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO.
Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives.
Awards and Recognition
Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.”
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care
"Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.
Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose.
2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series)
Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs.
"For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune.
3. Lifestyle & Wellness News
"They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions.
At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents.
4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure
For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics.
Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far.
Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership
Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions.
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