Brain Atrophy Is Similar in People With Alzheimer's and Diabetes

Key Points

• Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, as both conditions share risk factors influenced by age and obesity, according to new research.
• Alzheimer's disease and diabetes can negatively affect the brain, causing inflammation and oxidative stress that may resemble degeneration similar to that of Alzheimer's.
• Early interventions such as lifestyle changes, exercise and diet modifications can play a crucial role in mitigating the risk factors.

Brain atrophy, a condition characterized by the brain shrinking, has been observed in individuals with both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and diabetes. These two conditions have the potential to significantly impact relationships and sexual health.

It has also been suggested that type 2 diabetes might increase the susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease, since both share common risk factors primarily influenced by age and obesity.

Brain atrophy is similar in patients with Alzheimer's and diabetes, according to this January 2023 report on the effects of obesity. Both conditions can affect relationships and sexual health. The study has suggested that those with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Additionally, diabetes can lead to complications that can cause brain changes and contribute to cognitive decline.

What is brain atrophy?

Brain atrophy, aka brain shrinkage, is a condition that can lead to problems with memory and thinking. Factors that increase your likelihood of developing this condition include age, lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, and a family history of genetic disorders and neurological disorders such as AD.

These conditions have varying symptoms determined by several factors and the location of the damage in the brain. If you have brain atrophy, you can experience problems with memory, speaking difficulties and, sometimes, convulsions. Over time, the symptoms of this condition can worsen and require immediate medical attention.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

As with brain atrophy, Alzheimer's disease affects memory, thinking and behavior. AD is believed to be the primary cause of dementia, a condition that can interfere with your ability to perform daily tasks. Some of the risk factors of AD include genetics and age.

One notable symptom of this condition is memory loss, with early signs such as conversation difficulties. This can worsen, and other symptoms will likely develop, requiring medical attention.

Losing weight can reverse the effects of inflammation, which seems to cause brain degeneration similar to AD, said Filip Morys, a neuroscientist and the lead author of the research paper on which these findings are based.

"Still, a target weight/BMI has not yet been established," said John Cottone, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Stony Brook, New York.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes affects how the body converts food to energy and is diagnosed when the body's blood sugar level is high.

Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are the most common types of diabetes. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) ;more than 133 million Americans have diabetes or are prediabetic.

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How obesity affects the brain

Obesity can negatively affect the brain, similar to AD, according to Cottone.

"Obesity appears to negatively affect the brain in ways similar to Alzheimer's disease by contributing to inflammation and oxidative stress," he said. "According to recent findings, this triggers a complex chain reaction in the body, leading to an accumulation of beta-amyloid and tau proteins in the blood, disturbing blood flow to various parts of the brain."

Obesity can also affect brain structure. When there are changes to said structure, the gray matter volume in certain brain areas can be reduced. This reduction has an impact on key parts, which are involved in impulse control and decision-making.

"The result is a pattern of neurodegeneration and cortical thinning of gray matter in those with obesity, particularly in the right temporoparietal cortex and the left prefrontal cortex, similar to the pattern seen in AD," Cottone said. "It's unclear whether obesity alone contributes to this effect or if it is mediated by other conditions caused by obesity, like type 2 diabetes and hypertension."

Obesity and Alzheimer's disease

Obesity and AD have become global health crises in recent years. The link between the two is an area actively under study by several scientists who are seeking to better understand this phenomenon.

Both conditions share risk factors that affect inflammation and oxidative stress, contributing to the development and progression of cognitive decline.

"Obesity is responsible for low-grade chronic inflammation within the adipose tissue that over time can lead to diabetes and then to dementia," said Ethelle Lord, M.Ed., a dementia management consultant in Mapleton, Maine. "Inflammation is one of the main reasons we develop diseases. Obesity can be described as a low-grade chronic inflammation process resulting in multiple metabolic diseases."

Alzheimer's and obesity: A critical connection

There is a growing need to improve public health education about the effects of AD, obesity, diabetes and brain atrophy on brain health. Early intervention can be crucial to mitigate the risk factors and the long-term risks of neurodegeneration. Also, these conditions are responsive to lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet in their early stages.

"We know that many things are associated with higher body weight that can also impact the brain. [These include], for example, where you live, how much money you make, how easy it is to buy fresh food and cook at home, and the other health conditions you might have," said Emily Treichler, Ph.D., L.C.P., a clinical psychologist in San Diego. "Those other elements, sometimes called 'social determinants of health,' may be the cause of both higher weight and changes in cortical thickness and other aspects of the brain."

How I Navigate Dating With Diabetes: Extreme thirst. Debilitating tiredness. Unimaginable weight loss. These were just some of the symptoms I experienced in the run-up to being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2015. What hadn't crossed my mind at the tender age of 17 was that type 1 diabetes would wield such a huge impact on my sex life.

Why is obesity hazardous to the brain?

Obesity can cause low-grade chronic inflammation, which in turn can lead to cellular damage and cognitive decline, Lord explained, and early intervention can be crucial to prevent damage.

"On the positive side, early dietary interventions—such as supplements and vitamins, plant-based food choices and so on—combined with regular daily physical exercises as well as calorie restrictions, can not only prevent the body from developing dementia but arrest some types of diabetes and avoid developing dementia," she said.

The bottom line

A healthy weight is essential to living a healthy life, but unhealthy lifestyles have contributed to an epidemic of obesity cases on a global basis. This is largely associated with eating foods rich in fats and sugars and a lack of physical activity, which leads to the accumulation of fats in the body. Eating healthy and constantly engaging in aerobic exercise is important to burn extra fats and sugars.

"Instead of focusing on weight loss, considering a holistic way to improve your overall health and well-being is the best bet for your long-term brain function," Treichler said. "Many things that are good for your physical health are also good for your brain health. Getting adequate sleep and managing stress can be important for physical and mental health."