A recent study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Diabetes Care, has found that both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes can lead to accelerated brain aging. However, the study also offers hope, suggesting that healthy lifestyle choices can help counteract this effect.
Using deep machine learning techniques and MRI scans from over 31,000 individuals aged between 40 and 70, the researchers discovered that those with prediabetes had brains that appeared 0.5 years older than their chronological age, while those with diabetes had brains that were 2.3 years older. For individuals with poorly controlled diabetes, this difference was even greater, with brain ages more than 4 years older than their actual age.
Notably, the study revealed that maintaining high levels of physical activity and refraining from smoking and heavy alcohol consumption can mitigate the negative impact of diabetes on brain aging. Lead author Abigail Dove emphasizes that an older brain for one’s age could be an early warning sign for dementia but also highlights the potential for influencing brain health through healthy living.
This ongoing research aims to further explore the relationship between brain aging and diabetes over time. Dove hopes that these findings will contribute to preventing cognitive impairment and dementia in individuals with diabetes and prediabetes. The study underscores the importance of lifestyle modifications in preserving brain health amid the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
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