Diabetes is bad for your mental health, new Israeli research showsAside from the risks to your physical health, diabetes can also be a risk factor in accelerating cognitive decline and dementia according to new research from Tel Aviv University. The study, carried out by Dr. Tali Cukierman-Yaffe, a physician and researcher from the TAU School of Medicine, found that people with diabetes were 1.5 times more likely to experience cognitive decline, and 1.6 more likely to suffer from dementia than people without diabetes. Her recent publication in the journal Diabetes Care suggests that higher-than-average levels of blood glucose (blood sugar) may have a role in this relationship. Some 15 million Americans are now afflicted with diabetes, which can cause blindness, renal failure, stroke and heart disease. “Our results send an important message to the public,” says Cukierman-Yaffe, who is affiliated with the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) at McMaster University in Canada. “We have shown conclusively that there is a relationship between diabetes and cognitive dysfunction. This should be known by diabetics and their doctors. Knowledge is the first step towards action.”