People with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing dementia. But why? Thomas van Sloten, internist and vascular medicine specialist at UMC Utrecht, is investigating this question. He studies how sensitive the brain is to insulin and how the smallest blood vessels in the brain function. His goal is to develop a new treatment to prevent dementia in people with diabetes. For this research, he received a Diabetes Fonds Fellowship.
People with type 2 diabetes are almost twice as likely to develop dementia compared to people without diabetes. Researchers do not yet fully understand why. That is why Thomas van Sloten is looking for answers. He studies how sensitive the brain is to the hormone insulin. He also investigates how the smallest blood vessels in the brain function. This research may ultimately help us better prevent dementia in people with diabetes.
At the moment, there are no effective treatments for dementia. That is why prevention is so important. But prevention is only possible if we understand what exactly causes the disease. Thomas van Sloten is therefore investigating two possible new causes of dementia in people with diabetes:
The researcher believes that especially the combination of these two problems may be harmful to the brain.
Insulin is important for keeping your blood sugar levels balanced. But the hormone also plays an important role in the brain, for example in learning and memory. Your body can become less sensitive to insulin, which causes blood sugar levels to rise. But did you know that your brain can also become less sensitive to insulin?
Reduced insulin sensitivity in the brain likely occurs more often in people with diabetes, the researcher believes. He also thinks this often occurs together with reduced function of the smallest blood vessels in the brain. Do these two factors indeed increase the risk of brain damage and dementia in people with diabetes? Thomas van Sloten is investigating this using new blood tests and specialized brain scans.
The scientist is also studying another factor: plant-based diets and the brain in people with diabetes. This means eating little or no meat. It is already known that the body responds better to insulin with a plant-based diet. But does this also apply to the brain? Thomas van Sloten will investigate this.
The researcher is also developing a special prediction model. This model will help predict which people with diabetes have the highest risk of developing dementia. This will help identify which patients may benefit most from treatments aimed at preventing dementia.
Dementia has a major impact on people’s lives. Ultimately, Thomas van Sloten hopes to develop a new treatment to prevent dementia in people with diabetes. This new research is an important step toward that goal. It brings us closer to a healthier future for people living with diabetes.
Thomas van Sloten received a Diabetes Fonds Fellowship, a career grant for promising researchers. These fellowships allow scientists to work on groundbreaking diabetes research for a longer period of time. This helps bring us closer to new treatments, the prevention of complications, and a better quality of life for people with diabetes.
Read more about the Diabetes Fonds Fellowships (in Dutch).
