Obesity surgery linked to lower dementia risk in diabetes patients

Research from Örebro University and Karolinska Institutet indicates that patients with type 2 diabetes who undergo obesity surgery have a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Researchers noted that while the risk for these forms of dementia decreased, there was an increased risk for alcohol-related dementia among this group. Experts suggest this may be due to an increased risk of alcohol dependency following such surgery. Potential biological factors include weight loss and changes in the gut hormone GLP-1, which is also targeted by modern obesity and diabetes medications.

The study utilized data from the Scandinavian Obese Surgery Register (Soreg) and the National Diabetes Register (NDR).