A recent study conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institutet has found that both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are associated with an increased risk for brain-related health issues. Brain imaging was used to confirm that diabetes and prediabetes are correlated with accelerated brain aging. The study estimates that approximately 540 million people worldwide have diabetes, with about 98% of those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and another 720 million have prediabetes. Past studies have linked both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes to a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, and vascular dementia.
Abigail Dove, a PhD student at the Aging Research Centre in Sweden, led the study and found that making healthy lifestyle choices such as not smoking may help counteract the negative impacts of diabetes on the brain. By studying MRI brain scans of over 31,000 people between ages 40 and 70, the researchers discovered that people with prediabetes had brains that were 0.5 years older and those with diabetes had brains that were 2.3 years older than their chronological age. Dove explained that diabetes can promote various processes that contribute to brain aging, such as endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation.
The study also found that the gap between brain age and chronological age increased slightly over time in people with diabetes. However, this association was reduced in participants who engaged in high physical activity, did not smoke, and abstained from heavy alcohol drinking. By analyzing different groups based on glycemic status and lifestyle behaviors, the researchers found that people with diabetes who maintained optimal lifestyle choices had smaller gaps between brain and chronological age, suggesting that lifestyle can compensate against the detrimental influence of diabetes on brain health.
Scott Kaiser, MD, a board-certified geriatrician, emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle and effective diabetes management in reducing the risk of dementia associated with diabetes. As the population ages, the risk of dementia is increasing, with over 150 million people predicted to have dementia by 2050. Kaiser stressed the need for preventative strategies on a large scale to combat dementia. While the study showed associations, causality is not yet fully established, and more prospective studies are needed to investigate the direct impact and pathways. However, the study provides valuable targets for lifestyle interventions to promote brain health at both individual and population levels.
In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of healthy lifestyle choices in mitigating the negative impact of diabetes on brain health. By maintaining practices such as regular physical activity, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption, individuals with diabetes may be able to preserve their brain health and reduce the risk of accelerated brain aging. More research is needed to establish causality and further explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between diabetes and brain health. Implementing targeted lifestyle interventions based on these findings could have significant implications for improving brain health and reducing dementia risk on a global scale.
