It is know that type 2 diabetes is related to decline in memory and executive functions. In fact, adults with type 2 diabetes may start to develop cognitive decline years before being diagnosed, even in the prediabtes phase.
What are executive functions?
Executive functions are the mental skills that allow you to get things done. These skills are controlled by a portion of the brain called frontal lobe.
There are 8 key executive functions:
- Impulse control: thinking before acting.
- Emotional control: ability to keep feelings in check.
- Flexible thinking: adjust to sudden changes.
- Working memory: keeoing information in mind.
- Self-monitoring: evaluate your actions.
- Planning and prioritizing: planning goals and acting upon them.
- Task initiation: taking the action to get started.
- organization: keeping track of things both mentally and physically.
What is the link between diabetes and cognitive decline?
A group or researchers from the Netherlands studied diabetic patients and healthy controls. The patients had a full neuropsychological examination, looking specifically at cognitive aspects to be compared among groups. Possible risk factors were also assessed.
What the researchers found next was shocking.
The study showed that recently detected type 2 diabetes patients performed worse in memory functions and information processing speed compared to control subjects. The strongest determinants for poor results in the diabetic group were macrovascular diseases and smoking.
Type 2 diabetes is already associated with fast cognitive decline and the risk of dementia. These decreases in executive function are associated with brain atrophy and blood vessel lesions in the brain as seen by MRI.
In summary, negative effects on cognitive functions can be found in the early stages of type 2 diabetes. If a patient wants to reduce the risk of cognitive issues, interventions should be done at an early stage. For instance, offering a smoking cessation service would help type 2 diabetes to reduce the chance of developing cognitive issues in the future, not to mention all the other beneficial effects it has on the body.
[expand title=”References“]
Ruis, C, et al. 2009. Cognition in the Early Stage of Type 2 Diabetes. American Diabetes Association.
WebMD. What is Executive Function?
Understood.com. At a Glance: 8 key Executive Functions.
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