Diabetes And Memory Loss

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases that affect people across the globe. Type 2 diabetes, which constitutes 90 percent of all diabetes cases, affects about 285 million people around the world, which is about 6.4 percent of the entire population of this world. And the figures are projected to double by the year 2030. In America alone, about 18 million people are said to be suffering from diabetes. And these figures do not include the people with pre-diabetes, who are on the verge of officially being classified as diabetics.
 
The results of one study into the course of disease showed that the blood vessels to the brain in diabetic patients were constricted and the gray matter of the brain was more atrophied compared to non-diabetic patients. The frontal, parietal and temporal lobes of the brain were affected the most. It was also seen that along with the high level of glucose in the blood, inflammatory cytokines were also present. These cytokines caused chronic inflammation of the blood vessels of the brain, in turn leading to impaired blood flow and consequent brain atrophy.
 
Scientists have been able to establish a clear association between diabetes and the later risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This most famous form of dementia is known to lead to memory loss, confusion and progressive dementia, robbing patients of the ability to live their lives independently. A study led by researchers from the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and published in the journal Archives of Neurology has suggested that the so-called tau protein, responsible for the formation of tangles in Alzheimer’s disease, is affected by insulin abnormalities seen in people who have diabetes.

Patients suffering from Diabetes exhibit a greater decline in Cognitive Test Scores compared to Non-diabetic people of the same age group

A research study that was led by Dr. Kristine Yaffe from the University of California, San Francisco, has shown a link between diabetes and cognitive aging, in other words a faster decline in brain function. She, along with her colleagues, analyzed the effect of diabetes on the cognitive functions of 3,069 people, the majority of whom were above 70 years of age. While 23 percent of the people in the study were diabetic at the onset of the study, another 5 percent developed type 2 diabetes during the course of the study. All the participants were subjected to repeated cognitive tests which focused on their memory, coordination, concentration and overall mental health. The participants were studied for a period of nine years.

At the end of the study period, it was noticed that there was a significant gap in cognitive test scores of people with and without diabetes. Patients suffering from diabetes exhibited a greater decline in the test scores compared to non-diabetic participants belonging to the same age group. The participants who developed the disease in the course of the study performed poorly compared to those participants who did not suffer from diabetes. It was also seen that the deterioration in cognitive functions was in direct proportion to the level of blood sugar. The more poorly the disease was managed, the greater was the drop in the cognitive test scores, the researchers concluded.

In yet another study which included 824 nuns, priests and Catholic brothers, and was carried on for a period of six years, the researchers noted that 151 participants eventually developed Alzheimer’s disease. A total of 31 of these patients suffered from diabetes. The researchers concluded that patients suffering from diabetes faced a 65% higher risk of suffering from memory loss as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. While the study size was small, we can still learn things from this research.

All the above mentioned studies point to a strong link between diabetes and memory loss. Experts suggest that finding ways to prevent diabetes in midlife or before may be useful in preventing cognitive decline later in life. It is good to remember that eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are two lifestyle factors that help in diabetes prevention and are good for the health of brain as well. Once you are already diagnosed with diabetes, the most important step you can take would be to meet with your healthcare provider often and to strictly follow their recommendations.