High Blood Sugar Associated With Brain Shrinkage

Do people on the high end of the normal range of blood sugar levels develop the same brain shrinkage and tendency toward dementia that has been found in those with type 2 diabetes? According to an Australian study, the answer appears to be yes.

The study involved 266 people, aged 60 to 64 years, with normal blood glucose level as defined by the World Health Organization, who received brain scans at the start of the study and again an average of four years later. After controlling for age, high blood pressure, smoking, alcohol use, and other factors, the researchers found that those with higher fasting blood sugar levels lost more brain volume in areas involved with memory and cognitive skills than those with lower blood sugar levels. The findings suggest that blood sugar levels may have an impact on brain health even for people who do not have diabetes, but more research is needed to substantiate this.

Source: www.neurology.org September 4, 2012