The findings of the recent University of Edinburgh study suggest that the incidence of cognitive deceleration is fairly high in individuals with poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes. Some of the earlier studies have linked type 2 diabetes with two times more risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

The new study shows that those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are more prone to experiencing numerous hypoglycemic episodes or hypos – a condition which results from dangerously low levels of sugar reaching the brain.

With lack of sufficient glucose “fuel, the functioning of the brain is affected, and it leads to hunger, fatigue, sweating, dizziness, weakness, blurred vision, and high heart rate. In the most severe of cases, it can also result in momentary loss of consciousness, convulsions and even coma. 

For arriving at the conclusions of the study - was presented at a conference of the charity Diabetes UK - the researchers took on 1,066 people, aged between 60 years and 75 years, diagnosed of type 2 diabetes. The volunteers were given seven tests in order to evaluate their mental abilities like memory, logic, vocabulary and concentration.

The researchers found the 113 people, who had a history of experiencing severe hypos, performed rather poorly in the test and ended up with a much lower score compared to the other people of the group!