Can obesity-related conditions like type 2 diabetes shrink your brain?
Type 2 diabetes and dementia are two of the main health concerns for aging individuals, and some research has suggested that the presence of the former condition may contribute to the development of the latter.
Excess body weight is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes, and individuals who have the metabolic disorder often have co-existing obesity-related conditions like high blood pressure.
A recent study published in the journal Neurology indicated that having hypertension, excess weight and type 2 diabetes during middle age may cause certain regions of the brain to shrink, thereby impairing cognitive function.
"These factors appeared to cause the brain to lose volume, to develop lesions secondary to presumed vascular injury, and also appeared to affect its ability to plan and make decisions as quickly as 10 years later," said study author Charles DeCarli, MD, with the University of California at Davis in Sacramento and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.
The research involved more than 1,300 participants who were followed over the course of 10 years.
The study's results showed that the rate of white matter hyperintensitites progression in individuals with high blood pressure was faster than that in people without hypertension. Participants who had these small areas of vascular brain damage were found to have rapidly declining scores on cognitive tests that measured executive function, planning and decision making.
Obese subjects were shown to be in the top 25 percent of people with the most rapidly declining brain function, the findings indicated.
Moreover, middle-age participants with type 2 diabetes had decreased brain volume in the hippocampus region, compared to those with healthy blood sugar levels.
Individuals who want to shed pounds in order to help control their blood sugar levels and reduce their odds of developing obesity-related diseases may consider following a diabetic diet.
This type of well-balanced eating regimen may also benefit people who do not have type 2 diabetes since it involves cutting out sugary foods and those with high amounts of saturated fats. Emphasizing the consumption of produce, whole grains and lean protein may help individuals improve their weight, blood glucose levels and overall health.
Excess body weight is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes, and individuals who have the metabolic disorder often have co-existing obesity-related conditions like high blood pressure.
A recent study published in the journal Neurology indicated that having hypertension, excess weight and type 2 diabetes during middle age may cause certain regions of the brain to shrink, thereby impairing cognitive function.
"These factors appeared to cause the brain to lose volume, to develop lesions secondary to presumed vascular injury, and also appeared to affect its ability to plan and make decisions as quickly as 10 years later," said study author Charles DeCarli, MD, with the University of California at Davis in Sacramento and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.
The research involved more than 1,300 participants who were followed over the course of 10 years.
The study's results showed that the rate of white matter hyperintensitites progression in individuals with high blood pressure was faster than that in people without hypertension. Participants who had these small areas of vascular brain damage were found to have rapidly declining scores on cognitive tests that measured executive function, planning and decision making.
Obese subjects were shown to be in the top 25 percent of people with the most rapidly declining brain function, the findings indicated.
Moreover, middle-age participants with type 2 diabetes had decreased brain volume in the hippocampus region, compared to those with healthy blood sugar levels.
Individuals who want to shed pounds in order to help control their blood sugar levels and reduce their odds of developing obesity-related diseases may consider following a diabetic diet.
This type of well-balanced eating regimen may also benefit people who do not have type 2 diabetes since it involves cutting out sugary foods and those with high amounts of saturated fats. Emphasizing the consumption of produce, whole grains and lean protein may help individuals improve their weight, blood glucose levels and overall health.
First published on: August 2, 2011
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