More Diabetic Retinopathy, Less Brain Power


Just one of the debilitating side-effects of diabetes is the vision impairment, diabetic retinopathy, which can sometimes lead to the sufferer going blind. In the UK alone this cause of blindness is the most predominant in people of working-age. However, a recent study conducted in Edinburgh reveals that not only could a diabetic’s sight be robbed but also their brain power and memory.

The research was conducted at Edinburgh University and involved an examination of 1,066 patients from the ages of 60 to 75 and with type 2 diabetes. They were asked to complete 7 tests in total which were centred around functions within the brain; e.g. memory, concentration and logic. Thus the study found that those who had diabetic retinopathy did less well in the majority of these tests, showing that their cognitive ability was weaker than the other patients who didn’t have retinopathy. Lead researcher, Dr Jie Ding explains that “the severity of diabetic retinopathy is independently associated with cognitive dysfunction in people with type 2 diabetes aged 60 to 75”. Both Dr. Ding and Diabetes UK’s lead researcher, Dr Iain Frame, believe that retinopathy indicates when small blood vessels become blocked and narrowed within the brain, also known as cerebral microvascular disease. This will cause a reduced supply of blood to the brain which could be causing an increased aging speed of cognitive function.

Dr. Frame goes on to discuss how previous research has already shown that diabetic retinopathy can have a negative affect on cognitive function, which is noticed most predominantly in people with type 2 diabetes who are of the older generation. Therefore, this research joins previous research with the telling fact that the life-time of cognitive functions can be reduced. The study also provides worse news for males as the results showed an inclination that this cognitive decline could be more predominant with their gender.

5th March 2010

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