Recent research indicates that high blood sugar levels can impact the brains of both healthy individuals and those with diabetes.
A study conducted by Baycrest Academy for Research and Education (BARE) in Canada and published in Neurobiology of Aging in October revealed that elevated blood sugar levels may impair brain health in individuals without diabetes.
Brain Health Affected in Healthy Individuals
Past studies have shown that high blood sugar has detrimental effects on brain health in individuals with diabetes. However, its impact on the brains of healthy individuals was not well understood until now.
Diet and Exercise Key for Risk Reduction
Higher blood sugar levels were linked to decreased connectivity in brain networks crucial for cognition, memory, attention, and emotion regulation. This impact was more significant in older adults, but present across all age groups. Women experienced a stronger effect compared to men.
Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is preventable through lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in regular physical activity.
Impact on Heart Rate
The study also found a correlation between higher blood sugar levels and lower heart rate variability (HRV), with lower HRV potentially indicating lower resilience to stress. Researchers suggested exploring methods to enhance brain function by improving HRV as a potential intervention target for non-diabetic individuals.
