Type 3 Diabetes: Is Alzheimer's a Metabolic Disease?
We usually think of diabetes as a blood sugar problem and Alzheimer's as a brain problem. But a growing body of research suggests these two conditions might be more closely linked than we ever imagined. In fact, some scientists are now referring to Alzheimer's Disease as "Type 3 Diabetes."
At Better Health Beat, we explore the cutting-edge science connecting your metabolism to your memory.
The Brain Needs Fuel
Your brain is an energy-hungry organ. Despite weighing only 2% of your body mass, it consumes 20% of your body's energy. Its primary fuel source is glucose. Just like the cells in your muscles, your brain cells rely on the hormone insulin to help them absorb and use this glucose.
Braining Starvation: Insulin Resistance
We know that in Type 2 Diabetes, the body's cells become resistant to insulin—they stop listening to the signal to take in sugar. Research now shows this can happen specifically in the brain.
When brain cells become insulin resistant:
- They cannot get the glucose they need for fuel.
- Without fuel, neurons (brain cells) essentially starve and begin to die.
- This processes leads to the cognitive decline and memory loss characteristic of Alzheimer's.
Frighteningly, studies indicate that people with Type 2 Diabetes have a significantly higher risk—sometimes double—of developing Alzheimer's later in life.
The Protective Strategy
If Alzheimer's is, in part, a metabolic disorder, then the strategies we use to prevent diabetes may also protect our brains:
- Cut the Refined Sugar: Chronically high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the brain and drives insulin resistance.
- Move Your Body: Exercise is one of the most powerful ways to re-sensitise your cells to insulin.
- Consider Ketones: Some research suggests that when the brain can't use glucose, it can still run on ketones (fats). A lower-carb, healthy-fat diet (like the Mediterranean diet) may provide an alternative fuel source for aging neurons.
Editorial Summary
The theory: Alzheimer's may be the end-stage result of insulin resistance in the brain, leading to "brain starvation."
The risk: High blood sugar and Type 2 Diabetes are major risk factors for cognitive decline.
The hope: Managing your blood sugar today is one of the best investments you can make for your memory tomorrow.
Support your cognitive function with our targeted brain health nutrients.