Prediabetes and Diabetes linked with accelerated brain ageing, Study Reveals
A new study published in the journal Diabetes Care has found that type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are linked to accelerated brain ageing and also healthier lifestyle could prevent brain ageing in diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is recognized as a risk factor for dementia, but its impact on brain ageing in individuals without dementia, including those with prediabetes, remains unclear. A recent extensive brain imaging study reveals that both diabetes and prediabetes are linked to accelerated brain ageing.
The study analyzed data from over 31,000 individuals aged 40 to 70 who had undergone brain MRI scans. Using machine learning, researchers estimated brain age relative to chronological age.
Results showed that prediabetes and diabetes were associated with brains that were, on average, 0.5 and 2.3 years older than their chronological age, respectively. In individuals with poorly managed diabetes, the brain appeared more than four years older than its chronological age.
Additionally, the disparity between brain age and chronological age tended to widen over time in those with diabetes. However, these effects were less pronounced in people who engaged in high levels of physical activity and avoided smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
A subset of participants in the study had multiple MRI scans conducted over time. Current research includes ongoing follow-up MRI examinations to further investigate how diabetes affects brain ageing throughout different periods. This continued analysis aims to deepen the understanding of the long-term relationship between diabetes and the progression of brain ageing.
Reference: Abigail Dove, Jiao Wang, Huijie Huang, Michelle M. Dunk, Sakura Sakakibara, Marc Guitart-Masip, Goran Papenberg, Weili Xu; Diabetes, Prediabetes, and Brain Aging: The Role of Healthy Lifestyle. Diabetes Care 2024; dc240860. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc24-0860
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