Type 2 diabetes is associated with brain thinning

Diabetes mellitus implies a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is an important source of energy for cells that make up muscles and tissues. It is also a major source of fuel for the brain.
The main cause of diabetes varies depending on the type. But no matter what type of diabetes you have, the disease can lead to excess blood sugar. Too much blood sugar leads to serious health problems.
Chronic diabetic conditions include mainly two types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. There are also reversible diabetic conditions, which include pre -diabetes and gestational diabetes. Preidibetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, yet blood sugar levels are not high enough to be called diabetes. However, pre -diabetes can lead to diabetes if no steps are taken to prevent. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and may disappear after the baby is born.
The number of people living with diabetes, according to statistics, increased from 200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022. The prevalence grows faster in low and medium -sized countries than in high -income countries.
More than half of people living with diabetes, according to 2022 data, did not take medication for their diabetes. In this context, coverage with diabetes treatment was the lowest in low -income countries.
If diabetes is not treated, it causes blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.
In 2021, diabetes and kidney disease due to diabetes caused over two million deaths. In addition, about 11 percent of cardiovascular deaths were caused by high blood glucose.
Healthy eating, regular physical activity, maintaining normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the appearance of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes can be treated, and its consequences can be avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening, as well as treatment of complications.
A new study reveals that type 2 diabetes is associated with thinning of the cortex in older adults, especially in the regions responsible for memory and cognition. Using brain scans from a diverse population sample, researchers have found that poor blood sugar control can contribute to this structural brain change.

The strongest associations were observed in Hispanic participants, stressing the need for adapted diabetes management and brain health protection. The findings suggest that effective treatment of diabetes can play a key role in preserving cognitive function as people get older.
Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine « Keck » at the Institute of Neurism and Informatics at the University of North Texas (Stevens Ini), the Center for Health Sciences at the University of North Texas and the University of Texas in Austin have just announced their findings in the journal Alzheimer’s Disease.
Given the increased prevalence of diabetes, especially in minority populations, these results emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve diabetes management and mitigate its neurological consequences.
The study highlights the potential impact of diabetes on the structure of the brain and the importance of managing blood sugar levels to protect brain health at an older age.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is a chronic condition that affects one in ten Americans. If not controlled, it can lead to serious health problems that affect the circulatory, nervous and immune systems.
The research team revealed that people with T2DM show a significant slimmer cortex, especially in the temporal and parietal regions of the brain, which are critical of memory and cognitive function. To this end, advanced neurosulization techniques were used to analyze the thickness of the cortical part and the volume of the hippocampus in the cohort participants.
The diverse sample of the study, which includes adults of Hispanic origin, blacks not Hispanics and white adults, gives critical insight into how diabetes affects the brain’s health in various populations.
Although glucose is an essential and necessary nourishing material for brain function, the team has found that poor glycemic control can be a key driver of the observed link between type 2 diabetes and cortex thinning. Because blood sugar levels can be regulated by proper treatment and lifestyle interventions, findings emphasize the potential for protecting brain health through better diabetes management.
Researchers have found that the connection between type 2 diabetes and cortex thinning remained strong even after taking into account socio -economic factors and common comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity.

Participants of Hispanic origin showed the strongest associations, until significant effects were observed in adult blacks.
Given the increased prevalence of diabetes, especially in minority populations, these results emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve diabetes management and mitigate its neurological consequences.
Getting these indicators is the first step in promoting personalized care that best protects the brain and cognition for each individual.
The research team expects longitudinal studies to determine whether observed changes in the brain result in accelerated cognitive declines over time.
Further studies exploring the effects of diabetes and lifestyle interventions could help identify strategies to protect brain health in people with diabetes.
Key facts:
Impact on the brain: T2DM is associated with thinning the cortex in key cognitive regions.
Glycemic control is important: poor blood sugar regulation seems to stimulate these changes.
Health inequalities: The effects were the strongest among the participants of Hispanic origin, showing variations according to ethnicity.
And in our country, diabetes is quite widespread. On the other hand, insulin deficiency or glycemic control tests often occur. This study reveals that not only blood vessels are affected by uncontrolled blood sugar levels but also the brain is affected. Therefore, diabetes requires strict rules of control in order to avoid the most severe consequences.

Author: Acad. Nada Pop-Jordanova