For decades now, diabetes has been linked to loss of sight but now, recent research is suggesting that it has the ability to cause a decline in our cognitive function.
According to a new study conducted by Harvard Medical School, it has been discovered that there was a link between Type 2 diabetes and memory loss. It was discovered by them that the people suffering from it had undergone more negative changes in their brain function in a span of their 2 years of observation compared to the ones who didn’t.
For the study, the researchers observed 40 people with an average age of 66 years and from this group 19 had the disease while the rest 21 didn’t. The 19 people suffering from the disease had an average of 13 years of treatment and each of the participants brain function had been when the study started initially and then again in two years for assessing the way it altered with time.
Their brain functions had been assessed via cognition and memory tests, MRI scans of the brain for looking at volume, blood flow and blood tests for measuring control of blood sugar and inflammation.
Study author Vera Novak stated, that, “Normal blood flow regulation allows the brain to redistribute blood to areas of the brain that have increased activity while performing certain tasks. People with type 2 diabetes have impaired blood flow regulation. Our results suggest that diabetes and high blood sugar impose a chronic negative effect on cognitive and decision-making skills.”
The group with Type 2 diabetes had notably scored lower on various tests of memory and thinking skills in the two years. Not only that, but people who had lower ability of regulating blood flow at the start of the study also had bigger declines in a measure of how well they had the ability of completing everyday activities like taking a bath and cooking food, in comparison to the other group who participated in the study.
Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer’s Research UK said more research was needed to be conducted regarding the links between Type 2 diabetes and dementia. She said, “Though there is a well-established link between diabetes and an increased risk of dementia, this research did not look at that relationship directly but focused on memory decline in those without dementia. This small study highlights a possible mechanism that could play a role in affecting memory and thinking skills in people with diabetes, but this association is complex and still not fully understood.”
She continued, “We know that inflammation is being implicated in diseases like Alzheimer’s, and while it’s interesting to see it may also impact on the brain’s ability to divert blood flow, it’s hard to separate cause and effect in this kind of research. Studies involving more people, tested over longer periods of time, will be needed before a clearer picture can emerge.”
She added that current evidence suggested consisting of a balanced diet, drinking in moderation, not smoking, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control, and staying mentally and physically active can all assist in maintaining a healthy brain as we grow older.
