Health

Shocking Connection Between Type 2 Diabetes and Brain Health Revealed in New Study

2025-05-15

Author: Li

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California has unveiled a startling link between type 2 diabetes and changes in brain structure among older adults across diverse backgrounds. This eye-opening research emphasizes the critical need for effective diabetes management to safeguard cognitive health as we age.

The collaborative effort involved experts from the Keck School of Medicine at USC and other prominent universities, uncovering troubling findings published in the esteemed journal *Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring*. The discovery sheds light on how diabetes can fundamentally alter brain anatomy, particularly influencing regions vital for memory and cognitive function.

Type 2 diabetes affects one in ten Americans and, if uncontrolled, can lead to severe complications not just in overall health but also in brain health. Alarmingly, the research showed that older adults with this condition had notably thinner cortices, especially in areas of the brain associated with memory—the temporal and parietal regions.

Utilizing state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques, the study analyzed the brains of participants from the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities cohort, which includes a rich diversity of Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic white individuals. By focusing on this multifaceted population, the study provides essential insights into how diabetes affects brain health across cultural lines.

Key findings indicate that poor blood sugar control is a significant factor driving the thinning of the cortex in diabetics. Amaryllis A. Tsiknia, the lead author and Ph.D. student, notes, "Given that blood sugar levels can be managed through effective treatment and lifestyle changes, our research highlights the potential to protect brain health by improving diabetes management."

What’s even more concerning is that the link between type 2 diabetes and cortical thinning persisted regardless of socioeconomic status or other health conditions like hypertension and obesity. Remarkably, the effect was most pronounced among Hispanic participants, raising critical questions about how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence health outcomes.

Senior author Meredith N. Braskie, Ph.D., pointed out, "The differences we found across ethnic groups underline the need for deeper exploration into how various risk factors play out in unique ways across different populations—an essential step for developing personalized care strategies that best safeguard individual brain health."

Highlighting the significance of large-scale initiatives like the Health and Aging Brain Study, Braskie mentioned that such comprehensive studies offer valuable data, including cognitive assessments, brain scans, and clinical evaluations—all of which are vital for groundbreaking discoveries.

According to Arthur W. Toga, Ph.D., director of the Stevens Institute, "Discoveries like the one linking type 2 diabetes to brain structural changes underscore the importance of collaborative research efforts. It’s imperative to leverage large-scale studies to understand and combat the neurological effects of diabetes."