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Altered brain activity could explain impaired cognition in diabetes
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Patients with type 2 diabetes may have altered amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in many regions of the brain, leading to poor neurocognitive and metabolic consequences, according to data presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting.
Wenqing Xia, of the Medical School of Southeast University in Nanjing, China, said amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations are associated with poor neurocognitive performance, a consistently severe hyperglycemic state, and impaired beta-cell function.
The study results showed that patients aged 45 to 70 years with type 2 diabetes (n=28) demonstrated significantly decreased fluctuation values in bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus and right inferior occipital gyrus vs. healthy controls (n=29).
These abnormal values could be potential markers for identifying cognitive decline associated with type 2 diabetes, according to Xia.
“When compared with healthy controls, type 2 diabetic patients performed poorer on [Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test], Trail Making Test-A, Trail Making Test-B and Clock Drawing Tests] (P<.05). These changes reveal that type 2 diabetic patients suffered a cognitive decline in multidimensional aspects,” Xia said.
Additionally, patients with type 2 diabetes displayed increased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation values in cortical and subcortical regions, including the bilateral cerebellum posterior lobe, right cerebellum culmen and insula lobe.
An inverse correlation between the fluctuation values in the middle temporal gyrus and the HbA1c (P=.026) and score of Trail Making Test-B (P=.016) also were observed among patients.
However, C-peptide levels (P=.023) and the updated homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) estimating steady-state beta-cell function (P=.016) were positively linked to fluctuation values in the middle temporal gyrus, according to Xia.
“Most importantly, [resting-state functional] MRI may be able to track the very early progression of brain functional alterations associated with type 2 diabetes, prior to the onset of abnormal behavior performance,” Xia said.
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Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.