New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Stress raises risk of mental decline in older diabetics, study shows

Date:
February 27, 2010
Source:
University of Edinburgh
Summary:
Stress raises the risk of memory loss and cognitive decline among older people with diabetes, research suggests. Researchers have studied more than 900 men and women aged between 60 and 75 with type-2 diabetes, which tends to be common after the age of 40. They found that brain function slowed in participants with higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Share:
FULL STORY

Stress raises the risk of memory loss and cognitive decline among older people with diabetes, research suggests.

University researchers studied more than 900 men and women aged between 60 and 75 with type-2 diabetes.

Evaluating brain function

Scientists evaluated mental abilities with a range of tests, including memory function and how quickly participants processed information.

They compared this with general intelligence levels, using vocabulary tests, to work out whether brain function in participants had diminished over time.

They found that brain function slowed in participants with higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Edinburgh Type-2 Diabetes Study

The study, published by Diabetes Care, took into account factors such as education, cardiovascular disease, smoking and mood.

It is part of the Edinburgh Type-2 Diabetes Study set up four years ago to better understand why people with diabetes may have memory problems.

Researchers are now inviting people who enrolled when the study was set up to take part in follow-up research to repeat the memory tests.

Memory and diabetes

Type-2 diabetes tends to be more common after the age of 40.

It is linked to problems with memory, but the reason behind this is unclear.

The scientists, who have been funded by the Medical Research Council, will now look at other factors which may also impact on memory problems.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Edinburgh. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

University of Edinburgh. "Stress raises risk of mental decline in older diabetics, study shows." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 February 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100222100807.htm>.
University of Edinburgh. (2010, February 27). Stress raises risk of mental decline in older diabetics, study shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100222100807.htm
University of Edinburgh. "Stress raises risk of mental decline in older diabetics, study shows." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100222100807.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES