Fact 4: The Influence of Cardiovascular Factors
Diabetes and dementia also share common risk factors related to cardiovascular health. Hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity, which are often associated with type 2 diabetes, have also been linked to an increased risk of dementia.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can lead to narrowing and hardening of the arteries, reducing blood flow to the brain. This diminished blood supply could result in cognitive decline and increase the risk of vascular dementia, a form of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.
Similarly, high cholesterol levels can lead to the buildup of plaques in the arteries, further reducing the brain’s blood supply. Also, cholesterol might contribute to the development of amyloid plaques, protein clumps associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Obesity, particularly mid-life obesity, has been linked to an increased risk of both diabetes and dementia. Excessive body fat, especially around the waist, is associated with inflammation and metabolic changes that could lead to insulin resistance and damage to the brain.(4)
