The association of diabetes and dementia and possible implications for nondiabetic populations

Diabetes and prediabetic states have consistently been shown to be risk factors for cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The importance of these findings is that diabetes and diabetes-related factors are modifiable, potentially permitting interventions aimed at postponing or preventing dementia. However, diabetes control cannot yet be implemented universally in diabetic subjects as a strategy for dementia prevention since the mechanisms by which diabetes impairs brain function and cognition are not fully understood. It is not clear which of the diabetes-related factors is crucial to this relationship. In addition, strict diabetic control has been demonstrated to carry risk for certain diabetic populations. The aim of the current article is to discuss current understanding of the relationships of diabetes and some of its characteristics with dementia, and suggest future questions to be answered.