A new study has revealed a significant connection between type 2 diabetes and accelerated brain shrinkage, contributing to an increased risk of cognitive impairment in middle age. The research, which tracked participants over several decades, highlights the potential long-term impact of diabetes on brain health.
The study, which began in 1995, followed 185 participants with a range of health conditions. It found that individuals with type 2 diabetes experienced a significantly higher loss of white matter – the tissue that contains nerve fibers – compared to those without metabolic diseases. Over time, this white matter loss was linked to a 41 percent higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
White matter deterioration is a key factor in cognitive decline, and the study uncovered that those with biomarkers of dementia, including amyloid plaques, faced an even higher risk. The combined presence of both diabetes and amyloid plaques increased the risk of cognitive impairment by 55 percent.
The study, conducted by neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins University, is the first to demonstrate how diabetes and amyloid plaques interact to accelerate white matter loss. “These findings suggest that white matter degeneration may play a crucial role in cognitive decline,” the authors noted, adding that diabetes, through insulin resistance, could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease pathology and hasten the transition from normal cognition to MCI.
The trial was unique in its extended duration, with participants being tracked for up to 27 years, with multiple brain scans conducted over the years. Of the original cohort, 60 participants developed MCI by the study’s end, and 8 went on to develop dementia. While the study included a small group of type 2 diabetes patients, the results suggest that managing diabetes could serve as an important modifiable risk factor for dementia prevention later in life.
Notably, the study’s findings align with recent research showing that certain medications for type 2 diabetes are linked to a lower risk of dementia. Physician-scientist Shohei Fujita, who reviewed the study, praised the long duration of the research and stressed the importance of considering factors such as gender and race in future studies, as cognitive decline impacts individuals differently.
The study emphasizes the importance of early intervention and controlling diabetes to mitigate the risk of cognitive decline, offering hope for future targeted treatments to protect brain health.
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