Diabetes can slow the brain, study finds

Reuters ^ | Dec 31, 2008 | Maggie Fox

[neverdem]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Diabetes can slow the brain, causing trouble with two types of mental processing in adults of all ages, Canadian researchers reported on Wednesday.

Healthy adults did significantly better than diabetics on two tests of mental functioning -- executive functioning and speed of response, the team at the University of Alberta found.

"Speed and executive functioning are thought to be among the major components of cognitive health," Roger Dixon, who worked on the study, said in a statement.

Executive functioning includes the ability to focus, work with new information to solve problems and to give thoughtful answers to questions.

Writing in the journal Neuropsychology, the researchers said they studied 41 adults aged 53 to 90 with type-2 diabetes and 424 adults in good health.

There were few differences between adults under and over the age of 70, which suggests the changes occur early, Dixon said.

"There could be some ways to compensate for these declines, at least early and with proper management," he said.

Diabetes is known to raise the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer's. The high blood sugar levels caused by the condition can damage both blood vessels and nerves and lead to damage in many organs.

A study published in July showed that diabetics who take insulin plus a diabetes pill have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than diabetics who take insulin alone.

At least 194 million people worldwide have diabetes, and the World Health Organization expects the number to rise to more than 300 million by 2025...

[neverdem]

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FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.

[WildWeasel]

My experience with my 79 year old father makes me believe this report.

My dad was a type 2 diabetic, now type 1, who’s mental faculties seemed to worsen in early to mid 2005 much like someone with Alzheimer’s. He lived alone in a city close by and I was almost to the point of moving him in with my family. He lived alone and was fiercely independent.

Then, after an accident in the fall of 2005 where he broke is ankle and ultimately had his lower right leg amputated due to complications from diabetes, the doctor put him on insulin after the amputation. I suspect he went from type 2 to type 1 and his blood sugar was out of control causing the problems. Getting insulin and keeping his blood sugar in the good range is the big reason for his mental improvement in my observation.

His mental capability is much better after being put on insulin. My father is able to live on his own and take care of himself whereas before he was borderline need for full-time assistance. But he does live a few minutes away now instead of two hours.

[GOP Poet]

Then it should follow that fat makes us stupid. As much of the Diabetes is human caused by significant weight can. Word to the wise if you want to stay that way, treat your body well and the mind will follow.