A recent investigation by researchers at the Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus reveals troubling findings regarding young people diagnosed with diabetes. Published in the journal Endocrines, the study highlights that individuals diagnosed with diabetes during childhood or adolescence, whether type 1 or type 2, may face a substantially increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) later in life.
Lead author Allison Shapiro, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of paediatrics and endocrinology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, underscores the study’s findings. She notes that early indicators of neurodegeneration and AD pathology were detected through specific blood biomarkers in young adults with youth-onset diabetes. These preliminary results suggest a potential trajectory towards early-onset AD among individuals diagnosed with diabetes in their youth.
Traditionally, research linking AD and diabetes has concentrated on older adults aged 40 and above, where diabetes is known to correlate with a heightened risk of dementia and possibly AD. However, this study represents a departure by examining this association within a much younger demographic.
The study involved approximately 80 participants, including individuals with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and those without diabetes. Participants with youth-onset diabetes were drawn from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study, a national registry and cohort study. Researchers utilised blood biomarkers and PET scans to investigate signs of neurodegenerative disease in these young adults.
Significantly, the study detected elevated levels of amyloid proteins, characteristic of AD, in the brains of young people with youth-onset diabetes. This finding underscores the potential for early brain changes associated with AD in individuals affected by diabetes from a young age.
The findings are particularly concerning in light of the rising prevalence of obesity and subsequent diabetes among young people in the United States. Shapiro emphasises that around 20% of young Americans are now obese, contributing to increased rates of diabetes and associated inflammation, which are implicated in a range of diseases, including AD.
Shapiro warns that the healthcare landscape may soon confront a surge in ageing-related diseases among younger demographics due to these trends. Despite AD traditionally being viewed as a disease of later life, Shapiro stresses that early life factors, including diabetes, may exert a significant influence on AD development.
Looking ahead, Shapiro and her colleagues at the LEAD Center and the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center advocate for continued research funding to monitor these individuals as they age. Shapiro argues that longitudinal studies are crucial to deepening understanding of the risks and underlying mechanisms involved, offering insights for clinicians managing patients with youth-onset diabetes.
She also advocates incorporating cognitive testing into clinical care protocols for young people with diabetes, paralleling the approach already established for older adults. This proactive approach, Shapiro suggests, could enhance early detection and intervention strategies, potentially mitigating the cognitive impacts associated with youth-onset diabetes.
The study underscores the urgent need for heightened awareness and proactive healthcare strategies to address the potential long-term neurological implications of youth-onset diabetes, particularly AD.
More information: Allison L. B. Shapiro et al, Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropathology in Adolescents and Young Adults with Youth-Onset Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes: A Proof-of-Concept Study, Endocrines. DOI: 10.3390/endocrines5020014
Journal information: Endocrines Provided by University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
