A study of 1,437 people with an average age of 80 has revealed that people who were diagnosed with diabetes or high-blood-pressure in middle-age (40 to 64-years) are more likely to have brain damage and problems with thinking and memory when they get older. Rosebud O. Roberts, MB, ChB, MS, of the Mayo Clinic, and colleagues found that the brain volume of participants who developed diabetes in middle-age was, on average, 2.9% smaller compared to those who were not diagnosed in middle-age. While in the hippocampus area of the brain, the volume was 4% smaller. Furthermore, they were twice as likely to have thinking and memory problems. Meanwhile, participants who developed high blood pressure in middle-age were twice as likely to have areas of brain damage compared to those who were not diagnosed in middle-age. “Potentially, if we can prevent or control diabetes and high blood pressure in middle-age, we can prevent or delay the brain damage that occurs decades later and leads to memory and thinking problems and dementia.” concluded Roberts.
Diabetes and Hypertension Linked to Brain Cell Loss
People who develop diabetes and high blood pressure in middle-age are at increased risk of brain damage and problems with thinking skills later in life.
Roberts RO, Knopman DS, Przybelski SA, Mielke MM, Kantarci K, Preboske GM, et al. Association of type 2 diabetes with brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. Neurology. 2014, Mar 19. [Epub ahead of print].
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