Did Your Blood Sugar Ever Get the Brain?
New research found that folks in their 60s and 70s who have type 2 diabetes are dropping a little more when it comes to word spelling and quick‑thinking than their non‑diabetic buddies. In other words, the brain may be betting on blood sugar a bit too much.
How the Study Played Out
- Participants: 705 seniors, ages 55‑90, mean age ~70. About half (348) had diabetes.
- Timeline: Started in 2011, followed for an average of 4.6 years.
- Tests: Three brain scans to catch any tissue shrinkage and cognitive quizzes that shuffle words around.
The sweet spot was that diabetic participants were a tad younger—average 68—than the non‑diabetic group (average 72), though they were already showing a bit more brain atrophy at baseline.
What Happened to the Words?
Diabetics tumbled a smidge in verbal fluency. Meanwhile, their non‑diabetic peers actually sprouted a measure or two of fresh word power.
Brain Shrinkage: A Steady Dance
- Both groups saw similar rates of brain tissue loss over time.
- Initial differences in atrophy disappeared once we looked at the growth curve.
- Thus, the atrophy itself doesn’t explain why diabetes nudges cognition.
Early Onset?
Professor Michele Callisaya from the University of Tasmania suggests that diabetes‑related brain changes might start as early as middle age, not just in the twilight years.
What This Means for You
Stop waiting for the “brain decline” sign‑post. Keep your mind sharp by:
- Moving around – even a brisk walk counts.
- Eating right – a diet that’s also friendly to your blood sugar.
- Keeping weight in check – fewer pounds for a healthier brain.
- Watching blood pressure & cholesterol – a low‑down on the numbers matters.
- Challenging the mind – puzzles, trivia, or learning something new.
- Staying social – good friends keep your mental gears turning.
Limits of the Study
Researchers admit a couple of caveats:
- Diabetics had fairly decent blood‑sugar control; harsher cases might show stronger links.
- The study period may have been too short to catch big cognitive or volume shifts.
- “Brain reserve” – the brain’s capacity to shrug off insults – could have been lower in the diabetic cohort from the get‑go.
Expert Opinion
Dr. Rebecca Gottesman at Johns Hopkins says there’s no direct evidence that keeping glucose tight makes your thoughts happier, but long‑term control probably bodes well for brain health:
“The bottom line: We may not know if tight sugar levels magically improve cognition, but chronic control likely pays dividends for the brain,” she wrote.
Jill Morris from the University of Kansas emphasizes the same: regular exercise and a balanced diet are a double‑whammy, cutting blood sugar, insulin resistance, and even the chance of blood‑clotting in the brain.
Takeaway
Don’t wait until your grandma’s decade to start caring for your mind. Keep moving, eat smart, stay socially caffeinated, and you’ll give your brain a fighting chance—despite the wizarding side effects of diabetes.
