A new study led by researchers at McLean Hospital (a member of Mass General Brigham) and Washington State University used advances in digital testing to demonstrate that naturally occurring glucose fluctuations impact cognitive function in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Results of the study, published in NPJ Digital Medicine, show that cognition was slower in moments when glucose was atypical-that is, considerably higher or lower than someone’s usual glucose level.
However, some people were more susceptible to the cognitive effects of large glucose fluctuations than others.
Zoë Hawks, Ph.D., lead author of a study conducted at McLean, emphasized the importance of understanding both commonalities and differences among individuals in how diabetes affects the brain.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) involves glucose fluctuations, known to impair cognitive function, but past research lacked data on natural glucose variations outside labs.
Addressing this, the study employed digital glucose sensors and smartphone cog
nitive tests on 200 T1D individuals, capturing high-frequency data over 15 days.
The research revealed cognitive impairment linked to significant deviations from usual glucose levels, particularly affecting processing speed rather than sustained attention.
Surprisingly, peak cognitive performance was associated with slightly elevated glucose levels, challenging conventional beliefs regarding ideal glucose ranges.
Source: Oman News Agency