Diabetes could lead to diminished brain power
April 12th, 2009 - 12:04 pm ICT by ANILondon, Apr 12 (ANI): Failure to control type 2 diabetes may lead to poorer memory and diminished brain power, a new study has found.
According to University of Edinburgh team, severe hypoglycaemic episodes - hypos - occur when blood sugar levels drop dangerously low.
Hypoglycaemia is caused by a lack of sugar (glucose) reaching the brain, which uses it as fuel. Its symptoms include sweating, fatigue, hunger, feeling dizzy, feeling weak, a higher heart rate than usual and blurred vision
More severe episodes can led to temporary loss of consciousness, convulsions and coma.
Now, in the latest study, researchers recruited 1,066 people with type 2 diabetes aged between 60 and 75.
The study was presented at a conference of the charity Diabetes UK.
To reach the conclusion, volunteers were given seven tests assessing mental abilities such as memory, logic and concentration.
The 113 people who had previously experienced severe hypos scored lower than the rest of the group. They performed poorly in tests of their general mental ability, and vocabulary.
“Either hypos lead to cognitive decline, or cognitive decline makes it more difficult for people to manage their diabetes, which in turn causes more hypos,” The BBC quoted lead researcher Dr Jackie Price, as saying.
“A third explanation could be that a third unidentified factor is causing both the hypos and the cognitive decline. We are carrying out more research to establish which explanation is the most likely,” the expert added. (ANI)
- Diabetes 'leads to diminished brain power' - Mar 05, 2010
- Stress 'increases memory loss risk in diabetics' - Feb 22, 2010
- Stress raises diabetics' memory loss risk - Feb 23, 2010
- Diabetics suffering from low blood sugar attacks - Oct 05, 2009
- Brain starts going downhill after 45, shows study - Jan 06, 2012
- Memory deteriorates faster in life's last two years - Apr 05, 2012
- Wanna keep your brain healthy in old age? Party and meet friends! - Apr 26, 2011
- Adults with large waistlines, high blood pressure 'at high risk for memory loss' - Feb 03, 2011
- Damaged kidney function may cause cognitive decline in old age - Sep 29, 2009
- 5 more genes behind Alzheimer's disease risk identified - Apr 04, 2011
- Brain scans may help early detection of Alzheimer's - Apr 12, 2011
- Study shows mental decline in elderly is smaller than thought - Sep 14, 2010
- Genes tied to shrinking brain, Alzheimer's identified - Apr 16, 2012
- High risk factors for stroke linked to some cognitive decline - Apr 13, 2011
- Childhood music lessons keep ageing brains sharper - Apr 21, 2011
Tags: bbc, blood sugar levels, blurred vision, brain power, cognitive decline, convulsions, diabetes uk, fatigue, heart rate, hypoglycaemia, jackie price, loss of consciousness, mental abilities, mental ability, researcher, study researchers, sugar glucose, type 2 diabetes, university of edinburgh, vocabulary