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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- While research shows diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, having both conditions might actually slow the memory loss process.
In a study that followed over 600 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease for four years, researchers found patients without diabetes declined on cognitive test scores more quickly than those with the condition.
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Researchers tested participants every six months and found while overall scores dropped by an average of 1.24 points each time, those without diabetes declined by 0.38 points more on each test than those with diabetes.
"This result was surprising," study author Caroline Sanz, M.D., of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research in Toulouse, was quoted as saying. "Our initial hypothesis was that diabetes would increase the rate of cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer's disease."
Dr. Sanz added that one possible explanation for the discovery is that diabetes presents itself differently in the elderly than it does in younger people. Another is that elderly people with diabetes may be protected from memory loss by cardiovascular medications prescribed for their diabetes.
"These drugs have been reported to decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and also the rate of cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Sanz said.
SOURCE: Neurology, October 27, 2009
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