Grade: mixed
Carbohydrates come in simple and complex form. Complex carbs are generally ok (e.g. most vegetables). Simple carbs (e.g. white rice, corn chips, pretzels) are quickly converted into sugar which is problematic.
For a more in depth article on carbs and glucose try this page from the American Diabetes Association.
Grade: F
Sugar should be avoided in the diet, especially added sugar. Sugar has 61 different names when listed as a food ingredient. For the complete list of names and a host of interesting facts about sugar visit Sugar Science: The Unsweetened Truth.
Alzheimer’s: Sugar increases insulin levels, which if chronically elevated leads to insulin resistance which is highly correlated with Alzheimer’s.
For a more in depth description of the effects on sugar on the brain see How Sugar and Insulin Damage the Brain.
...researchers concluded that “very low carbohydrate consumption, even in the short term, can improve memory function in older adults with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease.”
The NAD/Sirtuin combination influences a wide range of cellular processes such as aging, rRNA transcription, mitochondrial biogenesis, apoptosis, inflammation, stress resistance, and insulin sensitivity.
Metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are related disorders that damage (among other things) the brain. Both conditions contribute to impaired cognitive function, and increase the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Metabolic syndrome is characterized by belly fat, elevated cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, increased risk of blood clots and inflammation. Metabolic syndrome, if uncorrected, eventually damages the pancreas leading to a decrease of insulin secretion. “The fall in insulin secretion leading to hyperglicemia occurs as a late phenomenon and, in fact, separates the patients with metabolic syndrome from those with or without overt diabetes.”(R)
Persons with metabolic disorders are at significantly increased risk for cognitive decline and the development of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Those with T2D are at even greater risk.
Insulin Resistance:
Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the Beta cells in the pancreas which also serve as glucose level monitors. As the beta cells in the pancreas detect increasing levels of glucose (a simple sugar) they step up insulin production.
When someone is insulin resistance, their cells are unable to take up glucose, and the result is hyperglycemia (an increase in circulating glucose).