He definitely needs to be evaluated.
David
You have asked an important question about diabetes and memory loss. There are a number of medical causes of memory loss, and a major one is dememtia. Dementia, in turn, has multiple potential causes, which can include Alzheimers disease, mini-strokes, drug or alcohol abuse, or simple aging. There are so many causes of memory loss (both treatable and non-treatable) that it is crucially important to work with medical experts who know how to evaluate this condition.
As David correctly points out, diabetes, if not well controlled, can damage the blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the brain. The tiny arteries that supply blood and oxygen can become inflamed and some brain cells may not get enough blood and oxygen and can die. The cumulative effect over many years can be increased risk of dementia and memory loss from loss of brain cells.
Having said that, we usually do not see dementia as a dramatically increased condition in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. We usually see the effects on other body parts, like kidney, eyes, and feet.
In any case, I hope you can get some useful insights from his doctors.
Michael Dansinger, MD
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