Type 1 Diabetes Linked to Higher Dementia Risk, Study Finds

People with type 1 diabetes nearly 3 times more likely to develop dementia than those without diabetes

Mar. 20, 2026 at 8:02pm

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A new study has found that people with type 1 diabetes have a significantly higher risk of developing dementia compared to those without diabetes. The study involved over 283,000 participants and found that those with type 1 diabetes were nearly three times as likely to develop dementia as people without diabetes, while those with type 2 diabetes were twice as likely.

Why it matters

As the lifespans of people with type 1 diabetes have increased due to medical advancements, understanding the relationship between type 1 diabetes and dementia risk has become increasingly important. This study suggests that type 1 diabetes may have a stronger association with dementia than previously thought, highlighting the need for further research and potential interventions to address this issue.

The details

The study, published in the medical journal Neurology, followed 283,772 people with an average age of 64 over 2.4 years. Of those, 5,442 had type 1 diabetes, 51,511 had type 2 diabetes, and 226,819 did not have diabetes. During the study period, 2,348 people developed dementia, including 144 (2.6%) of those with type 1 diabetes, 942 (1.8%) of those with type 2 diabetes, and 1,262 (0.6%) of those without diabetes.

  • The study was published on March 20, 2026.

The players

Jennifer Weuve

The study author and an MPH, ScD of Boston University.

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What they’re saying

“As advances in medical care have extended the lives of people with type 1 diabetes, it's becoming increasingly important to understand the relation of type 1 diabetes to the risk of dementia.”

— Jennifer Weuve, Study Author

“We have known that type 2 diabetes is linked to an increased risk of dementia, but this new research suggests that, unfortunately, the association may be even stronger for those with type 1 diabetes.”

— Jennifer Weuve, Study Author

What’s next

Researchers plan to conduct further studies to better understand the mechanisms behind the association between type 1 diabetes and dementia risk, with the goal of developing interventions to prevent or delay dementia in this population.

The takeaway

This study highlights the urgent need to address the link between type 1 diabetes and dementia, especially as the population of older adults with type 1 diabetes continues to grow. Understanding and mitigating this risk could have significant implications for public health and the quality of life for those living with type 1 diabetes.