Having type 2 diabetes in middle age could increase the risk of developing dementia by four times, according to a new study. Researchers from the National University of Ireland Galway tracked nearly 5,000 people over a decade to assess dementia risk factors.
The study, published in the journal Neurology, found that people aged 55 with diabetes were 4.3 times more likely to develop dementia in the decade after turning 65. For those aged 65 with diabetes, the risk was only doubled, suggesting that earlier onset of diabetes causes greater harm to the brain.
Lead author Professor Emer McGrath said: 'This shows that people who have diabetes in their fifties are more likely to develop dementia - probably because having the condition at a younger age can do more damage to your body and brain.' He added that no one wants a dementia diagnosis when entering retirement.
The study also identified other key risk factors at different ages. For those aged 65, cardiovascular disease such as heart attack or angina posed the greatest dementia risk. For people aged 70 and older, previous stroke or diabetes were the strongest predictors.
Separate data from NHS Digital and consultancy Future Health suggests more than 325,000 people in England may have undiagnosed dementia. Diagnosis rates have fallen below the government's two-thirds target since the pandemic, with regional variations from 83% in Stoke-on-Trent to 48% in nearby Stafford.
