Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are connected to quicker brain aging, but a healthy lifestyle offers potential protection, according to a recent study.

Diabetes, Prediabetes, and Brain Aging: The Role of Healthy Lifestyle
Go to source). Type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for dementia, but it is unclear how diabetes and its early stages, known as prediabetes, affect brain aging in people without dementia.
‘Did You Know?
Individuals with type 2 diabetes are 50-100% more likely to develop dementia compared to those without diabetes. #diabetes #aging’

Now, a comprehensive brain imaging study shows that both diabetes and prediabetes can be linked to accelerated brain aging. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are 50-100% more likely to develop dementia compared to those without diabetes. #diabetes #aging’





The study included more than 31,000 people between 40 and 70 years of age from the UK Biobank who had undergone a brain MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging).
The researchers used a machine learning approach to estimate brain age about the person’s chronological age.
Prediabetes and diabetes were associated with brains that were 0.5 and 2.3 years older than chronological age, respectively. In people with poorly controlled diabetes, the brain appeared more than four years older than chronological age.
How a Healthy Lifestyle May Slow Diabetes-Related Brain Aging?
The researchers also noted that the gap between brain age and chronological age increased slightly over time in people with diabetes. These associations were attenuated among people with high physical activity who abstained from smoking and heavy alcohol consumption.Advertisement
“On the positive side, it seems that people with diabetes may be able to influence their brain health through healthy living.”
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“There’s a high and growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the population,” says Abigail Dove. “We hope that our research will help prevent cognitive impairment and dementia in people with diabetes and prediabetes.201D
Reference:
- Diabetes, prediabetes, and brain aging: the role of a healthy lifestyle - (https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/doi/10.2337/dc24-0860/157163/Diabetes-Prediabetes-and-Brain-Aging-The-Role-of)
Source-Eurekalert