Eye Disease Related to Weakended Brain Power in Diabetics

Mon, 08 Mar 2010
Diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in the UK' working-age population, can be associated with poorer memory and diminished brain power in those with Type 2 Diabetes, so says new research announced this week at leading health charity Diabetes UK's Annual Professional Conference.

The study looked at 1,066 people with Type 2 diabetes aged between 60 and 75 years old.

Participants completed seven tests relating to logic, memory and concentration to establish their level of brain function.

Those with retinopathy had worse average scores on the majority of individual tests and general cognitive ability in contrast to those without the condition. The results were independent of age and gender.

Ms Ding from the University of Edinburgh, who co-led the research stated that: "These findings suggest that the severity of diabetic retinopathy is independently associated with cognitive dysfunction in people with Type 2 diabetes aged between 60 and 75 years old. This can mean either that cerebral microvascular disease, as indexed by retinopathy, may lead to cognitive decrements in old age or that poorer cognitive ability makes diabetes management more difficult, and in turn promotes the development of cerebral microvascular disease. "

The results provide insights into the specific underlying mechanism of cognitive dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes, perhaps due to a break-down of blood brain barrier (similar to changes in blood-retinal barrier as seen in diabetic retinopathy).

Clinically, cognitive impairment in Type 2 diabetes can be treated and preventive strategies targeted at this small vessel disease.

Retinopathy is an indicator of cerebral microvascular disease, when the small blood vessels of the brain are narrowed or blocked off and lead to a reduction in blood supply to the brain tissues. There is already evidence to suggest that cerebral microvascular disease and Type 2 diabetes may exacerbate the effects of aging on cognitive function. This study adds to this body of research as it suggests that diabetic retinopathy is linked to estimated life time cognitive decline in older people with Type 2 diabetes.

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