Diabetes is one of the most common conditions in the US and affects around 25.8 million children in adults, with approximately 1.9 million new cases of diabetes diagnosed in 2010. While many people are familiar with the way that diabetes affects insulin production and usage, but new research indicates that type 2 diabetes may have another unfortunate side effect: loss of brain volume.
Some previous research indicated that the brain may reduce in size due to diabetes, and the previous hypothesis was that this effect stemmed from diabetes’ ability to damage the small blood vessels in the brain. Now, however, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania believe that diabetes reduces brain volume not because of damage to blood vessels but because the way the brain handles excess amounts of sugar.
The results of diabetes can be fairly drastic. Researchers noted that “for every 10 years someone had diabetes, the brain looked as if it was about two years older than the brain of someone without diabetes.” The areas of the brain particularly affected by volume loss are known as gray matter. These areas include the parts of the brain that involve muscle control, sensory processing like seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, self-control and decision making.
There are many factors that can lead to type 2 diabetes, and while the causes of the disease are not fully understood, doctors do believe that those who are at highest risk are those obese or overweight, have a family history of type 2 diabetes, have little exercise, exhibit high blood pressure, and have low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides. If you are worried that you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, consulting a doctor is highly recommended. There are steps you can avoid to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
If you are looking for a doctor in the North Texas or Irving area, the physicians at MSCI are available to help. Contact our North Texas clinic today and schedule an appointment.
