Diabetes is known to cause many medical problems, from heart disease to vision problems. And now, new research suggests that memory and other cognitive functions can also be affected.
After observing brain activity and behavior in a rodent model, researchers at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) determined that type 2 diabetes can “rewire” the brain in a similar way to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
“Diabetes can be changing the brain just like the early stages of Alzheimer’s,” said James Heiman, lead investigator and professor of psychology in the release.
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“While further research is needed, these findings may help researchers unlock clues to improve their disease diagnostic or treatment strategies.”
Diabetes has been shown to affect memory and other cognitive functions. (istock)
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Previous studies have shown that type 2 diabetes patients are at a higher risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders.
“Diabetes can be changing the brain just like the early stages of Alzheimer’s.”
According to a press release from UNLV, hyperglycemia levels can affect hyperglycemia levels in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is part of the brain that is involved in cognitive and emotional functioning.
Researchers say the ACC links to key cognitive processes such as motivation, decision-making, goal tracking, joy seeking, reward processing, and emotional regulation.
In people with diabetes, hyperglycemia impairs the ACC’s reward signals from the hippocampus (the part of the brain that controls memory and learning).
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“To achieve rewards, or goals, is important to help us make future decisions. So if our brains react differently, it’s likely that our future decisions will be different,” Hyman told Fox News Digital.
“This has a lot to do with people managing type 2 diabetes because compliance with testing and lifestyle changes is a key aspect.”
Researchers determined that type 2 diabetes can “rewire” the brain in a similar way to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. (istock)
This also explains why it’s so difficult for many people to stick to new diets and to stick to exercise therapy, Heimann pointed out.
“This knowledge can help people stay patient and hardworking because it is not due to personal weaknesses but due to changes in brain physiology,” he said.
“This type of research opens new pathways not only for Alzheimer’s patients but also for other diseases affecting the brain.”
Dr. Adam Saiori, chief medical officer at Caron Treatment Center in Pennsylvania, said the brain’s reward system is known to help engrave memories.
“It makes sense that substances like sugar can influence and overwhelm people in rewarding the system can have lasting effects on cognition and memory of work,” Scioli, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
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Experts say the concept of reward and memory in type 2 diabetes has some similarities with addiction.
“Both conditions include changes in hippocampus-ACC connections that affect goal-oriented behavior and amnestic processing,” he said.
High blood glucose levels can affect the anterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain that is involved in cognitive and emotional functions, research found. (istock)
“This type of research opens new pathways not only for Alzheimer’s patients but also for other diseases affecting the brain,” added Scioli.
“It also provides a pathway that could potentially intervene in these diseases earlier and prevent or reduce cognitive decline.”
More research is needed
The study had several limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
“It was a rodent study, so translation into the human condition is challenging,” Hyman told Fox News Digital.
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“In addition, we modeled only one aspect of type 2 diabetes (chronic hyperglycemia). In humans, there are more symptoms than that. The other aspects can be different in either combined or cooperative or shock.”
Hyman’s team will do further research into the relationship between diabetes and brain function.
“Be patient and understand that this disease has rewired your brain.”
“Alzheimer’s disease becomes undetectable for decades because our brains are good at finding ways to compensate,” he said.
“Before diagnosis, people behave normally despite changes in information processing. This study observed that.”
Based on these findings, researchers recommend that people monitor their blood sugar levels. (istock)
Based on these findings, Hyman hopes that people are more likely to monitor their blood sugar levels.
“If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, follow your doctor’s orders closely and stabilize your blood sugar levels,” he advised. “We think it’s the very low blood sugar and hyperglycemia spikes that make people more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s.”
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For those who have problems with lifestyle changes, Hyman urged them to “not be that difficult for themselves.”
“Be patient and understand that this disease has rewired your brain.”
