The Alzheimer Foundation Aruba (F.A.A.) wishes to recognize all individuals who tirelessly dedicate their time to community awareness, focus on diabetes management, and encourage the population to reduce the risk of neurocognitive disorders associated with diabetes.
Besides the well-known health consequences of diabetes, it can cause serious problems to the heart, kidneys, eyes, vision loss and even blindness.
Long-term effects can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, kidney problems, vascular or arterial damage that can cause foot problems leading to amputations, sexual health issues, blood flow problems, hormonal changes, psychological factors (such as fatigue and depression), and problems in the mouth and digestive system.
Examples of how diabetes affects the brain and cognitive functioning:
Vascular damage:
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can damage small blood vessels and blood flow, increasing the risk of stroke and reducing the supply of blood to the brain.
Structural changes in the brain:
Diabetes is associated with structural changes such as atrophy (shrinkage) in areas related to cognitive decline, which results in reduced abilities such as memory, thinking, language, and decision-making.
The cognitive effects of diabetes are often more significant than normal aging.
Functional decline:
Commonly affected functions include attention and psychomotor speed. Brain stress: High and low blood sugar levels
High blood sugar:
Episodes of high glucose place stress on the brain. Many people do not notice the immediate effects, but over time elevated glucose damages blood vessels and reduces oxygen-rich blood flow.
When the brain receives too little blood, neurons begin to die, causing memory and thinking issues and eventually leading to vascular neurocognitive disorders.
Low blood sugar:
Hypoglycemia can be extremely dangerous if not treated immediately. The brain is deprived of glucose and oxygen.
Symptoms appear right away: dizziness, shaking, irritability, difficulty walking or speaking.
Severe hypoglycemia can lead to fainting, seizures, coma, and even death.
Research also shows associations with depression, memory problems, and attention difficulties.
If blood sugar drops suddenly and symptoms appear, immediate medical evaluation is essential to identify the cause and adjust medication if necessary.
As the global population ages and obesity increases, a drastic rise is expected in diabetes-related neurocognitive disorders. This demands more multidisciplinary attention, research, and awareness to reduce the serious consequences for humanity.
Today it is known that people with type 2 diabetes have 1.6 times higher risk of developing a neurocognitive disorder compared to individuals without diabetes.
It is estimated that 20–70% of all people with diabetes worldwide experience cognitive decline.
High Risk for Neurocognitive Disorders
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of neurocognitive disorders (previously called dementia), including vascular forms and Alzheimer’s, due to its negative impact on blood vessels and blood flow to the brain.
This leads to problems with:
– Memory
– Attention
– Learning
– Mood changes
– Weight gain
– Hormonal shifts (e.g. estrogen and progesterone fluctuations affecting insulin and glucose levels, especially during pregnancy)
Diabetes can also affect executive functioning: mental skills needed to plan, solve problems, and adapt to new situations.
Working Memory (short-term processing and organizing of information), essential for planning and everyday functioning, may also diminish.
Cognitive domains affected:
– Non-memory functions
– Attention and concentration
– Executive functioning (planning, decision-making, organization)
– Memory (short- and long-term)
– Processing speed (mental and motor)
– Visuospatial skills (perception, orientation, navigation)
Written by: Drs. Melva Croes-Yánez