Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Post-Meal Blood Sugar Tied to Higher Alzheimer’s Risk, Large Genetic Study Finds

Mendelian randomization in more than 350,000 UK Biobank participants suggests a potentially causal signal that researchers say needs replication across ancestries.

Overview

  • Individuals with higher two-hour postprandial glucose had a 69% greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • The association was not explained by overall brain volume or white-matter damage, pointing to subtler mechanisms.
  • Researchers examined fasting glucose, insulin, and two-hour post-meal glucose, with postprandial levels emerging as the key signal.
  • The analysis used genetic data from over 350,000 adults aged 40–69 in the UK Biobank to strengthen causal inference.
  • The authors urge replication in diverse populations before informing prevention or clinical guidance, noting potential relevance for managing after-meal glucose.