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A rise in blood sugar levels causes poorer brain
function in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a study that
included nearly 3,000 people aged 55 and older at 52 sites in Canada
and the United States.
The participants, who were part of a larger study on cardiovascular
risk in diabetes, underwent cognitive tests designed to measure
several aspects of memory function. The researchers found that a 1%
increase in A1C levels (average blood glucose levels over a period
of two to three months) was associated with slightly lower scores on
tests of psychomotor speed, global cognitive function, memory and
multi-tasking.
However, no link was found between tests scores and daily blood
glucose levels, which are measured by a fasting plasma glucose test.
The findings appear in the February issue of Diabetes Care.
"One of the little-known complications of type 2 diabetes is memory
decline leading to dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease,"
principal investigator Dr. Jeff Williamson, of Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical Center, said in a news release from the
university.
"This study adds to the growing evidence that poorer blood glucose
control is strongly associated with poorer memory function and that
these associations can be detected well before a person develops
severe memory loss," he said.
Previous research has shown that people with diabetes are 1.5 times
more likely than those without diabetes to experience cognitive
decline and develop dementia.
Williamson said that "people with type 2 diabetes and their
health-care providers need to be careful in situations where there
is education and teaching about diabetes care, as patients may need
a little more time to absorb and process information."
And he urged people with diabetes to "be open to having a family
member periodically making sure they are keeping track of managing
their diabetes through monitoring, diet, exercise and medication."
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