Metabolic health may shape future dementia risk for Latino communities

Researchers from the University of California San Diego have found that diabetes is linked to changes in measurable biological signals in the blood that are associated with Alzheimer's disease and brain damage in Latino adults. The study, published on April 23, 2026 in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, suggests that metabolic health may play an important role in shaping future dementia risk.

Diabetes is usually discussed in terms of heart disease or kidney problems, but our findings show it may also be closely connected to changes in the brain. These biological signals in the blood give us early clues about processes that could eventually lead to Alzheimer's disease."

Hector González, PhD, corresponding author and professor, Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine

The study followed more than 6,000 middle-aged and older Latino adults from several U.S. cities with large Latino populations, including San Diego, as part of a 15-year community health research project. Researchers examined whether people with diabetes - or with higher long-term blood sugar levels - showed changes in blood-based indicators linked to Alzheimer's disease and nerve cell damage.