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It’s a lifelong condition which causes a person’s blood sugar to become too high, leading to a number of health problems, including an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
But now a study has discovered another side-effect of the condition, apparent in overweight and obese patients.
The research published in the journal Diabetologia found those with early stage type 2 diabetes and excess body weight had more severe and progressive abnormalities to their brain structure
and cognition compared to their normal-weight counterparts.
These findings come after previous research found type 2 diabetes to increase the risk of health problems in many of the body’s organs.
They believe complications in the brain the combination of type 2 diabetes and obesity causes may accelerate cognitive dysfunction - even increasing risk of dementia.
They believe complications in the brain it causes may accelerate cognitive dysfunction - even increasing risk of dementia.
It’s not yet understood quite how type 2 diabetes alters the brain, but it’s suggested insulin resistance, poor blood sugar control, and inflammation might be to blame.
However being overweight causes metabolic dysfunction which has already been linked with brain alterations.
The study authors said: “We found that disease duration-related alterations in cortical thickness and white matter integrity were more prominent in overweight or obese type 2 diabetic
individuals than in those with normal weight.
"A similar trend was also found in psychomotor speed performance. These findings suggest that weight status may play additive roles in type 2 diabetes-related brain and cognitive
alterations."
They added: "Our findings also highlight the need for early intervention aimed to reduce risk factors for overweight or obesity in type 2 diabetic individuals to preserve their brain
structure and cognitive function."
"An increased awareness of overweight or obesity-related risk is necessary to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes-related brain atrophy and cognitive dysfunction from early stage type 2
diabetes onward."
Cognition is the mental action or process of gaining knowledge and understanding through experience, thought and the senses.
It’s a misconception that ageing leads to the inevitable loss of cognitive abilities.
Research has shown while certain areas of thinking do decline as we get older, many actually remain intact.
In addition to body weight, there are a number of factors influencing cognitive ageing according to Emory University, including changes in mood such as depression, and the onset of health
conditions like arthritis.
Medications which produce side-effects, and sensory changes which can interfere with processing of information such as hearing loss, are two further examples.
However, you can sharpen cognitive processes by reducing stress, staying mentally stimulated and keeping healthy.
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