Vascular brain changes in diabetes mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder with numerous health consequences that stem from high levels of sugar in the blood related to insulin resistance. The prevalence of T2DM varies by country, but there is a clear trend towards an increased number of people worldwide living with diabetes. People manage their diabetes through medications and lifestyle, and consequently live longer compared to previous decades; however, there are currently T2DM ‘blind spots’, notably whether diabetes accelerates brain aging, predisposing people to incurable diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Epidemiological data suggest that diabetes can lead to an earlier diagnosis of dementia by 2.2 years. The pathological mechanisms by which T2DM accelerates dementia are not understood. This study will identify the key drivers of neurodegeneration in diabetes, including both vascular and Alzheimer’s related mechanisms, and implement a treatment strategy that targets both simultaneously. The study offers novel opportunities to understand and address how T2DM accelerates Alzheimer’s disease, with potential for high-impact findings that will support changes in clinical practice. The team brings collective expertise in diabetes diagnosis, monitoring management, and in cognition, blood-based biomarkers, and neuroimaging.