Diabetes May Solve Puzzles of the Brain

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A number of studies have suggested that people with diabetes -- when the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot process it -- are more prone to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's. Studies are getting closer to understanding the link between the two conditions and which parts of the brain are most affected by glucose and insulin.

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Sweet sugar. That's the Greek translation of the word glucose, the substance our bodies make to use for energy Relevant Products/Services. Glucose and the glucose-regulating hormone insulin have long been studied by scientists looking for a cure for diabetes. Now the substances are increasingly coming under the study of brain scientists because it appears they might just be golden keys to brain health as we age.

A number of studies have suggested that people with diabetes -- when the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot process it -- are more prone to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's. Studies are getting closer to understanding the link between the two conditions and which parts of the brain are most affected by glucose and insulin.

A study in the January issue of Diabetes involving thousands of Swedish twins reports developing diabetes before age 65 corresponds to a 125 percent increased risk for Alzheimer's.

A glucose-hungry brain may be more prone to cognitive decline, and other medical investigations indicate that the mind's ability to analyze problems and the speed at which it processes information may suffer if blood glucose is abnormal or if insulin is too high.

The National Institute on Aging is funding several diabetes clinical trials to see whether treating certain aspects of diabetes will affect cognitive health and Alzheimer's.

"There's an amazing interest in glucose and insulin as a risk factor for cognitive function and memory loss and also interest in using some of the tools we use for diabetes to treat Alzheimer's," says Stephen Clement, a diabetes researcher and associate professor of endocrinology at Georgetown University Hospital.

No Difference Between Age Groups

A study in the American Psychological Association's January issue of Neuropsychology confirmed that even people who keep diabetes in check are more likely than those without the condition to experience mental decline over time. The researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada went on to determine which specific brain functions declined. They followed 465 people between the ages of 53 and 90, measuring their cognitive abilities at three years using a battery of tests. Of the group, 41 patients had type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that executive function -- complex, analytical thinking -- and speed of processing were hurt in the people with diabetes, and not in the non-diabetic group.

The ongoing study also revealed that the younger and older diabetes group showed no difference in impaired performance, suggesting that cognitive decline occurs early in the disease, then remains stable, says author Roger Dixon, professor of psychology at the University of Alberta.