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After-Meal Blood Sugar Spikes Tied to 69% Higher Alzheimer’s Risk, Large Genetic Study Finds

Liverpool researchers used genetic analysis of more than 350,000 UK Biobank participants to link after‑meal glucose levels to Alzheimer’s risk.

Overview

  • Using Mendelian randomization, the team tested genetic proxies for fasting glucose, insulin, and two‑hour post‑meal glucose to assess likely causal effects on dementia.
  • Elevated two‑hour post‑prandial glucose emerged as the standout signal associated with Alzheimer’s risk in the analysis.
  • The association was not explained by global brain volume or white‑matter damage, pointing to other biological pathways.
  • The authors urge replication in diverse ancestries before the findings inform clinical advice or public‑health guidance.
  • The peer‑reviewed study in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism highlights post‑meal glucose control as a potential prevention focus.