Hypertension is a disease of lifestyle which affects the arteries of the brain causing a lack of oxygen later in life leading to dementia. Brain scans (MRI’s) have revealed what are called brain infarcts or small stokes which destroys small areas of the brain which can lead to decreased brain function. It appears that persons with the most small strokes have the highest rate of Alzheimer’s and other dementia’s.

The same damage to blood vessels are seen in people with elevated blood sugars and those with diabetes; in fact there is such a close association between diabetes and Alzheimer’s that some people call Alzheimer’s disease type 3 diabetes. It appears that as a result high blood sugars insulin levels in the blood are elevated causing reduced levels in the brain. And because insulin clears beta-amyloid from the brain, this lack of insulin increases the the risk of Alzheimer’s. So for better health, reduce your blood sugar and blood pressure with exercise, weight loss, proper diet, and medications if needed! (Source: Nutrition Action Health Letter – Jan/Feb 2014)