LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Scientists have long suspected the link, and the latest research offers hope that addressing diabetes and diabetes risk may also help prevent dementia. 
Diabetes is a very common illness, yet it is almost entirely preventable. Doctors are now discovering that diabetes increases risk factors for a number of other conditions. This makes controlling it  increasingly important.

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Research was conducted in Japan, by examining the residents of the town of Hisayama. In 1961, they began monitoring people with cardiovascular diseases. Then, in 1985, they began measuring the numbers of people who had dementia. Over the course of the study, researchers have studied more than 1,000 people over an average of 11 years each.  

The findings show that 27 percent of the people who had diabetes also developed dementia, compared with 21 percent developing the disease without diabetes. The study was published in the latest issue of the journal, Neurology. 

Confirming the long-suspected connection does not surprise doctors. However, it reinforces the importance of taking diabetes seriously and treating the illness properly. Patients who do not follow the routines prescribed by their doctors are jeopardizing their long-term health in very significant ways. 

Mayo Clinic neurologist, Dr. Richard Caselli, said, "Nobody doubts that diabetes is associated with a higher incidence of dementia. But this is one more reason for people to be aware of the potential ravages of diabetes and to treat it aggressively and adequately and try to prevent consequences."

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says 25.8 million adults and children have diabetes in the United States which costs $174 billion in health-care annually. Atop that, a whopping 79 million Americans are pre-diabetic. If one adds the $183 billion for treating the 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer's, it becomes clear that addressing diabetes should be a significant national priority.

If diabetes were controlled, the cases of Alzheimer's would also drop and the savings would tally in the billions.

But here's an eye opener:

Cost of diabetes plus Alzheimer's treatment: $357 billion. Number of Americans: 307 million.COST to EACH AMERICAN, per year: $1163.

Now understanding that one-half of all Americans do not pay income taxes, one can begin to appreciate the financial impact of this disease.  And while the figures make significant assumptions and do not factor in other sources of funding, they should still drive home the importance of fighting the disease, even if one does not have either condition. 

One thing should be clear. Diabetes could possibly be one of the greatest threats to American health, well being, financial stability, and life itself. 

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