Both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes have been linked to an increased risk for brain-related health issues, such as accelerated brain aging. Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet confirm this correlation using brain imaging techniques. Making healthy lifestyle choices, such as quitting smoking, may help counteract the negative impacts of diabetes on the brain. It is estimated that around 540 million people worldwide have diabetes, with almost all of them diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Additionally, about 720 million people globally have prediabetes.
Studies have previously linked prediabetes and type 2 diabetes to an increased risk for various brain-related health issues, including Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, and vascular dementia. Abigail Dove, a PhD student involved in the study, highlighted the importance of understanding how diabetes and prediabetes affect brain health as individuals age. The research team analyzed MRI brain scans of over 31,000 participants between 40 and 70 years old from the UK Biobank over an 11-year period. At the beginning of the study, 43% of participants had prediabetes, while 4% had diabetes.
The study revealed that individuals with prediabetes had brains that were 0.5 years older than their actual age, while those with diabetes had brains that were 2.3 years older. Dove explained that diabetes-related hyperglycemia can lead to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation, ultimately affecting brain health. Individuals with diabetes who engaged in high physical activity, did not smoke, and avoided heavy alcohol consumption showed a smaller gap between brain age and chronological age compared to those who did not adopt these healthy lifestyle habits.
Scott Kaiser, MD, a geriatrician, noted that this study underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and effectively managing diabetes to reduce the risk of dementia. He emphasized the significance of lifestyle factors such as physical activity, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a balanced diet in promoting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia. While the study shows associations between diabetes and brain health, further research is needed to establish causality. Kaiser stressed the need for interventions that leverage this information to prevent dementia on a larger scale.
