Type 2 Diabetes causes Brain Shrinkage and loss of Cognitive abilities.

[Ichingcarpenter]

Abstract
OBJECTIVE Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with brain atrophy and cerebrovascular disease. We aimed to define the regional distribution of brain atrophy in T2DM and to examine whether atrophy or cerebrovascular lesions are feasible links between T2DM and cognitive function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This cross-sectional study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and cognitive tests in 350 participants with T2DM and 363 participants without T2DM. With voxel-based morphometry, we studied the regional distribution of atrophy in T2DM. We measured cerebrovascular lesions (infarcts, microbleeds, and white matter hyperintensity [WMH] volume) and atrophy (gray matter, white matter, and hippocampal volumes) while blinded to T2DM status. With use of multivariable regression, we examined for mediation or effect modification of the association between T2DM and cognitive measures by MRI measures.

RESULTS T2DM was associated with more cerebral infarcts and lower total gray, white, and hippocampal volumes (all P < 0.05) but not with microbleeds or WMH. T2DM-related gray matter loss was distributed mainly in medial temporal, anterior cingulate, and medial frontal lobes, and white matter loss was distributed in frontal and temporal regions. T2DM was associated with poorer visuospatial construction, planning, visual memory, and speed (P ≤ 0.05) independent of age, sex, education, and vascular risk factors. The strength of these associations was attenuated by almost one-half when adjusted for hippocampal and total gray volumes but was unchanged by adjustment for cerebrovascular lesions or white matter volume.


http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/36/12/4036.full



Also: http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/5/214/214ec199.full



Type 2 Diabetes
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is most often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.



http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/overview/


http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas

[frazzled]

1. Thank goodness that's not the case in my family

Both my father and mother have Type 2 diabetes. My father didn't get it until his early or mid-80s. He just turned 97 last week, and, aside from hearing problems (incurred during his time as a flight gunner in WWII), he's sharp as a tack. Same with my mother, who is 88. Whatever other physical issues they may have, the fact that they have all their mental faculties makes things very doable for both them and us.

Oddly, my mother-in-law, who never had diabetes, was the one who suffered from dementia in the last years of her life. Go figure.

[loudsue]

2. But all the chemicals, hormones and shit (high fructose corn syrup) they put in our food

helps to create the weight gain that leads to obesity. So it's making us fatter, stupider, and more prone to cancer.

I just want to scream.

Edited to add this from another DU thread:

Antibiotics, one of the wonder drugs of the 20th century, were initially used indiscriminately in people and animals, experts say. Farmers discovered that antibiotics helped animals grow much more rapidly and added the drugs to feed and water given to healthy animals.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014669750

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. type 2 has a much higher percentage for

the poor, and middle class. The rich are not even close to the same statistics because they can eat better food.

To me the stats show that this is not just a genetic problem besides dumbing down the population, the disease is causing even a larger gap that can have sociological and political implications.

[loudsue]

4. Good post. And good points.

It's infuriating what is being done to the most vulnerable members of this planet.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Aren't those the same symptoms as belonging to the Tea Party ?