(April 14, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Episodes of severe low blood sugar in older adults have been linked with an increased risk for dementia, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here is some information about hypoglycemia:

•    It is a condition in which the concentration of sugar in the blood is too low.

•    Those with type 2 diabetes are at risk for hypoglycemia because they must take medications that lower the amount of sugar in their blood.

•    Symptoms include dizziness, disorientation, fainting, or seizures.

Researchers from Kaiser Permanente in Oakland followed over 16,000 older adults with type 2 diabetes. They looked at the relationship between hospitalizations or requiring emergency care for hypoglycemia and a subsequent diagnosis of dementia.

Those who had experienced one episode of severe hypoglycemia were 26% more likely to receive a diagnosis of dementia. The risk increased as the number of episodes of hypoglycemia increased, and those who had three or more episodes were nearly twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of dementia as those who had no episodes.

We had a chance to speak with Dr. Rachel Whitmer, the principal investigator of this study, who offered some further insight.

Today's research suggests that closely controlling blood sugar so that severe episodes of hypoglycemia do not occur may help reduce the risk for dementia among those with type 2 diabetes.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.