Type 2 Diabetes Causes Symptoms Similar to Alzheimer’s In The Brain
More than 36 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, meaning their blood sugar levels are always top of mind. After all, when people with diabetes have blood sugar levels that are too low or too high, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms like brain fog and moodiness. And if you develop hypo- or hyperglycemia (when your blood sugar is way too high or too low), you can also suffer from pretty serious health issues including a diabetic coma.
Interestingly enough, new research suggests that the impact of high blood sugar on the brain in type 2 diabetics may be so intense that it can actually mimic early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
The good news: You can lower your risk with proper blood sugar management. Here’s what the study found, plus what doctors recommend doing to keep all of this in check.
Meet the experts: Minisha Sood, MD, is an endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital; Betul Ayse Hatipoglu, MD, is an endocrinologist and professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; James Hyman, PhD, is a study co-author and associate professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
What did the study find?
For the Journal of Neuroscience study, researchers studied brain activity and behavior in rodent models, looking specifically at how high blood sugar impacts a part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
The researchers found that rats with untreated type 2 diabetes had a heightened anticipation of a reward like a treat compared to those who didn’t have the condition. After receiving the reward, healthy rodents stopped to savor it, while those with diabetes quickly moved on to the next reward.
More specifically, researchers found that levels of insulin (a hormone that helps escort blood sugar into cells) in rats with high blood sugar interfered with the brain’s ability to process information around rewards. It also tamped down on input to the ACC from the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain linked to memory.
Why does this matter? Well, the circuit between the ACC and hippocampus is a key player in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. As a result, symptoms of people with unmanaged high blood sugar can mimic those of early Alzheimer’s disease.
“This type of muted reward response could help explain why patients with type 2 diabetes have trouble sticking to the lifestyle changes that are part of their treatment regimens,” says James Hyman, PhD, study co-author and associate professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “Their brains don’t respond to normally rewarding things, like foods and exercise, potentially due to their disease.”
What is ACC?
ACC stands for anterior cingulate cortex. It’s a part of the brain that’s linked with fundamental cognitive processes, including motivation, decision making, learning, goal-oriented behavior, pleasure-seeking, and reward-processing.
The ACC also plays a role in regulating emotions.
How does type 2 diabetes change your brain?
Type 2 diabetes can impact the brain a few different ways. There is a higher risk of vascular disease, nerve damage, and inflammation in people who have high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes, says Betul Ayse Hatipoglu, MD, an endocrinologist and professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. All of those can impact the brain and its ability to function normally, she points out.
High blood glucose levels can also literally alter the size of the brain, as well as change the blood vessels in the brain, says Minisha Sood, MD, an endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital. “That can lead to compromised nutrient delivery to brain cells and inflammation and damage the brain,” she says.
High blood sugar levels can also cause cell damage in the brain and “basically accelerate brain aging,” Dr. Sood says.
Is there any way to reverse those changes?
Scientists don’t know at this point. “It is unclear whether the brain changes from [unmanaged] type 2 diabetes can be fully reversed,” Dr. Sood says. “But it is likely that they can be significantly improved and further progression can be halted with intensive lifestyle changes and control of blood glucose levels through a combination of lifestyle changes and possibly even medication.”
Dr. Hatipoglu agrees. “We know improving blood sugar will always help,” she says.
Dr. Hyman also points out that the rodents in his study had untreated diabetes which led to consistently high blood sugar levels. Chronically high blood sugar is likely “the key to brain-related effects,” he says. Meaning, if you have type 2 diabetes but it’s well-managed, you shouldn’t stress about having an altered brain.
“I’d also speculate that over time, given that our brains are so malleable, in a treated individual, normal reward responding would return,” Dr. Hyman says.
How can I naturally lower my blood sugar?
If you have type 2 diabetes and are concerned about your blood sugar levels, it’s important to connect with a healthcare professional about a treatment plan that works for you. But doctors agree that there are certain lifestyle changes that seem to help most people with type 2 diabetes.
Regular exercise, following a healthy eating plan like the Mediterranean diet, doing your best to manage stress, and getting high-quality sleep can help, Dr. Hatipoglu says.
But again, if your blood sugar levels aren’t where you’d like them to be, it’s time to talk to your doctor.
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
link
