A recent study published in Diabetes Care revealed that people with diabetes and pre-diabetes are at an increased risk of accelerated brain aging. However, the study also found that embracing a healthy lifestyle can help counteract these effects.
The researchers used MRI scans of 31,000 participants from the UK Biobank to estimate brain age and found that prediabetes was associated with a 0.5 increase in brain age, while diabetes was associated with a 2.3-year increase. The study also noted that the brain appeared over four years older than chronological age in those with uncontrolled diabetes.
Lead author Abigail Dove from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden stated that having an older-appearing brain for one’s chronological age could be an early warning sign for dementia. However, she also highlighted that those with diabetes can potentially improve their brain health through healthy living.
With diabetes affecting approximately 1 in 10 people globally and the number expected to rise, the researchers hope that their findings will help prevent cognitive impairment and dementia in individuals with diabetes and prediabetes.
The study emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity, avoiding smoking, and moderating alcohol intake, to mitigate the impact of diabetes and prediabetes on brain aging. By taking proactive steps to improve their health, individuals with diabetes can potentially reduce their risk of accelerated brain aging and cognitive decline.
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