New studies highlight a potential link between persistent insulin changes and the risk of developing dementia, offering hope for earlier detection and prevention strategies.
A recent report in the Russian outlet Aif, citing the Daily Mirror, says a therapist has pointed to persistent insulin changes as a possible early warning sign for dementia. The article says Annette Bosworth argued that chronically high insulin levels and insulin resistance may appear long before memory problems become obvious, although she stressed they are not symptoms of dementia themselves.
That view is broadly consistent with a growing body of research. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Neurology in July 2026 found that insulin resistance was linked with a higher risk of all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The authors said the evidence suggests insulin resistance may be an important risk factor, while also noting that more carefully designed prospective studies are needed to determine whether the relationship is causal.
Earlier studies point in the same direction. Research published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy in 2021 found that higher insulin resistance, measured using the triglyceride glucose index, was associated with a greater risk of dementia. A 2014 review in Frontiers in Endocrinology also described how chronic hyperinsulinaemia can contribute to insulin resistance and may influence Alzheimer’s disease pathology years or even decades before symptoms emerge.
Other work has linked impaired insulin function to later cognitive decline. A 2024 cohort study in Diabetes found that people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who had poorer insulin secretion faced a higher dementia risk. Earlier Neurology studies in 2004 and 2008 reported that hyperinsulinaemia and a weak insulin response were each associated with a greater likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease, reinforcing the idea that metabolic changes in midlife may matter for brain health later on.
Bosworth also advised monitoring glycated haemoglobin, or HbA1c, a blood marker that reflects average glucose levels over the previous two to three months. That recommendation fits with a wider prevention message: while insulin resistance does not mean dementia will develop, it may identify people who could benefit from closer attention to metabolic health, especially alongside other known risk factors.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
