This is important to know.
Recent research reveals that fluctuations in blood sugar levels can impact cognitive function in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Specifically, the study focused on cognitive processing speed, which refers to how quickly individuals process incoming information, and attention.
Laura Germine, co-senior author of the study, emphasized the variability in how glucose affects individuals’ brains. She highlighted the importance of minimizing glucose fluctuations, particularly for older individuals or those with other diabetes-related health conditions. Germine directs the Laboratory for Brain and Cognitive Health Technology at McLean Hospital in Boston.
Using wearable digital glucose sensors and smartphone-based cognitive tests, researchers monitored 200 individuals with type 1 diabetes throughout their daily routines. Over 15 days, participants’ blood sugar levels were tracked every five minutes, alongside completion of cognitive tests three times daily.
As anticipated, cognitive function declined during episodes of very high or very low blood sugar levels. However, this decline primarily affected processing speed rather than attention. The researchers hypothesized that moment-to-moment changes in blood sugar levels may influence processing speed, while attention may be impacted by longer-term fluctuations.
Furthermore, the study revealed that certain groups, such as older adults or those with specific health issues, were more susceptible to the effects of glucose levels on cognitive function.
Published in the journal npj Digital Medicine on March 18, the findings underscore the importance of recognizing individual differences in how diabetes affects the brain. Lead author Zoë Hawks, a research investigator at McLean Hospital, emphasized the need to consider both similarities and differences among individuals.
One unexpected discovery was that individuals with type 1 diabetes tended to exhibit peak cognitive performance when their blood sugar levels were slightly higher than normal. Naomi Chaytor, co-senior study author and a professor of medicine at Washington State University, noted the significance of this finding. She suggested that the brain may adapt to accustomed glucose levels, prompting further investigation into whether optimal cognitive performance can be achieved within the normal glucose range by reducing time spent above this range.
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