Asian Scientist (Sep. 17, 2013) – New research has shown that cognitive decline in people with Type 2 Diabetes is likely due to brain atrophy, or shrinkage, that resembles patterns seen in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
The research, published in Diabetes Care, is the first large-scale study to compare brain scans and cognitive function between people with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).
In their study, the researchers found that brain atrophy, rather than cerebrovascular lesions, was likely the primary reason for cognitive impairment associated with T2DM.
“Type 2 Diabetes and dementia are both highly common disorders affecting the ageing population and this research shows that there may be a mechanistic link between them. Indeed, generalized brain atrophy may be the key driver of cognitive decline in Type 2 diabetes and such atrophy is also commonly seen in people with dementia,” said Associate Professor Velandai Srikanth, senior author of the study.
The research built on previous studies that had shown there may be a greater risk of future dementia in people with T2DM. However, it was unclear whether T2DM was a causal factor for the development of cognitive impairment, and if so, what mechanisms may be involved.
The researchers compared cognitive function and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of the brain in more than 700 people with and without T2DM.
Those with diabetes performed less well in certain cognitive tests and had greater shrinkage in specific regions of the brain, which appeared to drive the differences in cognitive function.
Although the researchers found that participants with diabetes also had more strokes on MRI, this did not explain the cognitive differences between groups.
The findings will lead to further research in trying to identify why people with Type 2 Diabetes develop brain atrophy, and how such atrophy may be prevented or slowed.
The article can be found at: Moran et al. (2013) Brain Atrophy In Type 2 Diabetes: Regional Distribution And Influence On Cognition.
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Source: Monash University; Photo: IsaacMao/Flickr/CC.
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