Diabetes is a condition that many people know about, but not everyone realizes how deeply it can affect the body over time—especially the brain.
A new study from Michigan Medicine has found that type 2 diabetes can slowly change the brain’s structure, even before a person notices any problems with memory or thinking.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It usually develops in adults, especially those who are overweight or have a family history of the condition.
It happens when the body has trouble using insulin, the hormone that helps control blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the heart, kidneys, nerves, and now, as research shows, possibly even the brain.
In this new study, scientists looked at a group of 51 middle-aged Pima American Indians who had been living with type 2 diabetes for many years. This group was chosen because they had a high risk of diabetes, and many had been managing the condition for a long time. The researchers wanted to know if diabetes could quietly affect the brain without showing clear signs.
To find out, the team used a brain scanning tool called MRI. This machine takes detailed pictures of the brain. They also gave the participants some tests to check their memory and language abilities.
The brain scans showed some interesting results. People who had diabetes for many years had a thinner brain surface and less gray matter. Gray matter is important because it helps us think and make decisions.
The scans also showed more white spots, which can be a sign of aging or health problems. These changes were physical, meaning they could be seen on the scan, but the people didn’t feel anything unusual.
Even with these changes in the brain, the participants did not perform worse on memory or language tests. Their test results were similar to people who did not have diabetes. This means that even though the brain was changing, their thinking and speaking skills were still strong.
Dr. Evan Reynolds, one of the researchers, said this shows how diabetes can slowly change the brain, even before any symptoms appear. It’s like a silent process that happens over time. This discovery is important because it can help doctors understand the early signs and find ways to protect the brain in people with diabetes.
The study also found that other problems related to diabetes, such as kidney disease or nerve issues affecting the heart, were linked to more serious changes in the brain. But nerve damage on its own didn’t seem to affect memory or language, showing that diabetes affects each part of the body in different ways.
Another senior researcher, Dr. Eva Feldman, said it’s important for people with type 2 diabetes to know about these risks. Taking care of their health early and regularly checking in with their doctor might help protect their brain in the long run.
This research was a team effort between Michigan Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Monash University, and several national health institutes. It was published in a respected medical journal and supported by groups focused on aging and diabetes care.
This study is just one piece of the puzzle. Other researchers are now looking at how diet, exercise, and even eye health connect with diabetes. The more we learn, the better we can help people live longer, healthier lives—even with conditions like type 2 diabetes.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about bananas and diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Vitamin D that may reduce dangerous complications in diabetes and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
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