If your memory is getting worse, it’s likely not just your age. What actually happens to the brain when blood sugar levels have been high for 10 to 20 years tells a very different story — and understanding that early is important, because by the time memory symptoms appear, the underlying problem has usually been developing for a long time already. (Based on the vision of Dr. Eric Berg)
Key takeaways
- Memory loss and dementia are described here as progressing through four stages, with brain changes beginning long before symptoms appear.
- A positron emission tomography (PET) scan can detect hypometabolism in the brain years before standard tests detect anything — part of the reason Alzheimer’s is sometimes called “type 3 diabetes.”
- Chronically high blood sugar and insulin cause vitamin B1 (thiamin) to be depleted through the urine at a rate of 16-24 times the normal rate.
- The National Institute on Aging is conducting a phase II trial of benfotiamine (a form of B1) for Alzheimer’s disease across 50 sites.
- Reducing refined carbohydrates and sugar is described as the most important measure, as diet directly affects the amount of vitamin B1 available.
The four stages before memory loss becomes apparent
First stage It involves low energy in the brain. memory He’s still well at this point, with little to no symptoms, except for some fatigue.
The second stage This occurs when certain protein residues begin to accumulate in the brain without being properly removed, and the hippocampus – the part of the brain responsible for memory – begins to shrink. The hippocampus is a real energy hog, containing the densest concentration of… Mitochondria (Energy factories in the brain) for any area of the brain, so it requires a lot of energy to function. Memory is still generally good at this point.
The third stage This is when things start to notice – especially difficulty remembering names, and a decreased ability to learn new things. This can start as early as your 30s or 40s.
Fourth stage This usually happens when the diagnosis occurs, in part because the person begins to lose the ability to notice their cognitive decline – and family members often notice memory problems before the person does.
Why does standardized testing fail so early?
Traditional medical tests tend to focus on symptoms, so if there are no symptoms yet, testing is usually not done. A test that can detect this early is a PET scan, which is the same type of scan used to detect cancer, but for a completely different reason. In the case of cancer, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan looks for areas with high glucose content, because cancer cells aggressively consume glucose. in Alzheimer’s disease In other forms of dementia, it is the opposite: there is a deficiency in glucose metabolism, which means that the brain consumes less glucose than it should.
This is part of the reason why some researchers refer to Alzheimer’s disease as “type 3 diabetes” — it is primarily an energy problem. When levels of glucose circulating through the bloodstream remain high for a long time, the body compensates by reducing glucose uptake, a process called insulin resistance – and this can happen in the brain specifically. The result is an abundance of glucose in the bloodstream, but too much of it becomes unavailable to the nerve cells that need it.
Three questions to ask yourself
1. Do you need to eat every two or three hours to avoid becoming irritable or foggy? This is a useful indicator of a blood sugar problem, even without a diabetes diagnosis, since these problems often take years to become measurable with standard tests.
2. Do you wake up between two and three in the morning for no apparent reason? This is often a blood sugar issue rather than a stress or cortisol issue.
3. Do you feel mentally sluggish or need a nap after eating a carbohydrate-rich meal? If you answered yes to any of these three, it may indicate that you are somewhere along that progression.
The role of vitamin B1 (thiamine)
When glucose and insulin levels are high for long periods, the body loses weight Vitamin B1 Through urine at a rate of 16 to 24 times higher than normal. In other words, the more refined carbohydrates you consume, the more vitamin B1 is depleted.
This is important because of the reserve energy pathway called glycolysis, which only provides a small amount of fuel compared to what mitochondria can generate when they are working properly. In diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, the mitochondria themselves are not necessarily damaged—it’s more like the entry door to this energy factory is blocked. B1 is necessary to keep this door open. Without it, the body produces excess lactic acid, which is exactly what has been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, and this buildup reduces the availability of oxygen and further exacerbates the problem. Picture an engine: oxygen and fuel need to mix properly, but you also need a spark plug to ignite it – B1 works like that spark plug.
Ongoing research on benfotiamine
Researchers are currently studying a specific form of vitamin B1 called benfotiamine and its relationship to Alzheimer’s disease. The National Institute on Aging is conducting a large phase II trial testing benfotiamine across 50 different sites. Benfotiamine is already used to treat peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes, and is known to help remove toxic glucose byproducts and support the regeneration of myelin sheath, the protective covering around nerves.
The primary problem that causes vitamin B1 deficiency for most people is simply consuming too many refined carbohydrates. For example, wheat and refined grains lose more than 85% of their natural vitamin B1 content during processing. Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, and starch creates a persistent vitamin B1 deficit that continues to close the door on the primary energy pathway, forcing the body to rely on a much less efficient backup system — which is part of the reason why fatigue becomes a common symptom.
What actually matters most
No matter where someone is on this progression, reducing refined sugars and carbohydrates is described as the most important action to take – because no amount of vitamin B1 or benfotiamine supplements can outweigh a diet that continues to deplete them. The suggestion here is to pair a low-carb diet with benfotiamine supplements, since the low-carb approach protects the vitamin B1 you take in rather than allowing it to be consumed as quickly as it is replenished. Adding intermittent fasting is touted as another way to speed up progress, as addressing the risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia essentially requires addressing the underlying blood sugar problem.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Alzheimer’s disease sometimes called “type 3 diabetes”?
Because positron emission tomography scans show decreased glucose metabolism in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, which is the opposite of what is seen in cancer, where glucose uptake is high. This pattern indicates an underlying problem with energy and insulin resistance specific to brain tissue.
Why does eating refined carbohydrates deplete vitamin B1?
High blood sugar and insulin levels dramatically increase the loss of vitamin B1 through urine, and refined grains themselves lose more than 85% of their natural vitamin B1 content during processing – creating a double depletion effect.
Are benfotiamine supplements enough on their own?
According to this approach, no – vitamin B1 supplementation without reducing refined carbohydrates is not effective, since continued high carbohydrate intake continues to deplete vitamin B1 just as quickly as it is replenished. A low-carb diet is touted as essential along with nutritional supplements.
What are simple signs that blood sugar may be affecting brain energy?
Needing to eat every 2-3 hours to avoid irritability or brain fog, waking up between 2-3am for no apparent reason, and feeling mentally sluggish or needing a nap after eating high-carb meals are three signs discussed here.
Quick start checklist
- ☐ Ask yourself the three questions about eating frequency, 2-3 AM wake-up time, and post-meal lethargy
- ☐ Reduce refined sugars, starches, and processed carbohydrates
- ☐ Ask your doctor about a positron emission tomography (PET) scan if cognitive changes are concerning
- ☐ Discuss taking benfotiamine supplements with your doctor before starting
- ☐ Consider a low-carb approach along with nutritional supplements, with medical guidance
- ☐ Talk to your doctor before exceeding specific supplement doses or starting intermittent fasting
source: Dr. Eric Berg
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Supplement dosing recommendations in the source material exceed standard label directions and are not based on an established clinical protocol; Consult your doctor before starting to take benfotiamine or any new supplement, especially when taking doses higher than directed on the label, and before making major dietary changes such as low-carb eating or intermittent fasting, especially if you have diabetes or take related medications.
