A new study led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) reveals a significant association between type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and reduced cortical thickness in the brains of older adults from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The findings highlight the potential impact of diabetes on brain structure and underscore the importance of blood sugar control for maintaining brain health in aging populations.
The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, was conducted by scientists from USC’s Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI), the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and the University of Texas at Austin. The research focused on the relationship between T2DM and brain cortical thickness, particularly in the temporal and parietal lobes—regions critical for memory and cognitive function.
Using advanced neuroimaging techniques, the team analyzed data from the “Health & Aging Brain Study – Health Disparities” (HABS-HD) cohort, which includes cognitively normal older adults from Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White populations. The diverse sample provided valuable insights into how diabetes affects brain health across different racial and ethnic groups.
The study found that individuals with T2DM had notably thinner cortical regions compared to those without diabetes. This association remained robust after adjusting for socioeconomic factors and common comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Hispanic participants showed the strongest correlation between diabetes and cortical thinning, while no significant effects were detected in non-Hispanic Black adults.
Research lead Amaryllis A. Tsiknia, Ph.D. candidate, emphasized that controlling blood glucose through treatment and lifestyle changes could protect brain health, stating, “Our results highlight the potential for better diabetes management to mitigate brain changes linked to diabetes.”
Senior author Meredith N. Braskie, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology and HABS-HD co-lead, noted the importance of understanding ethnic and racial disparities in brain health, saying, “Our findings suggest the need for further research into how various risk factors combine differently across populations, which is essential for advancing personalized brain health care.”
Arthur W. Toga, Ph.D., director of Stevens INI and neuroimaging lead for HABS-HD, remarked on the value of large-scale initiatives like HABS-HD. He explained that comprehensive data from the study—ranging from brain imaging to clinical tests—enable critical discoveries such as the link between type 2 diabetes and cortical thickness.
The researchers plan to continue longitudinal studies to determine whether these brain changes contribute to accelerated cognitive decline. Additionally, future research will explore the effects of diabetes medications and lifestyle interventions aimed at preserving brain health in diabetic individuals.
This study underscores the urgent need for targeted strategies to manage diabetes and reduce its neurological consequences, especially given the increasing prevalence of diabetes among minority populations.
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