Diabetes and poor blood sugar control may negatively affect brain health, potentially contributing to faster brain aging, cognitive changes and a higher likelihood of dementia, including Alzheimer’ s disease and vascular dementia. Your brain has insulin receptors, too. If these start ignoring insulin— something that often happens with type 2 diabetes— it can mess with how your brain works. This could change energy use in the brain and affect learning and memory. Some experts even call Alzheimer’ s“ type 3 diabetes” because of issues with insulin resistance.

Dr. Kristi Sutton, from CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs, explained the effect of unstable blood sugar on the brain:“ Because the brain’ s main source of energy is sugar, it’ s the first organ affected by lower sugar levels. When your brain cells, called neurons, don’ t get enough sugar, they start to malfunction.”

HOW DIABETES AFFECTS THE BRAIN

The effects of diabetes on brain health can appear in different forms:

• Mild cognitive impairment Individuals with diabetes may encounter changes in concentration, memory or information processing speed, sometimes referred to as“ brain fog.”

• Faster brain aging and damage

Studies show people with diabetes might see their brains age faster. High blood sugar( hyperglycemia), long-term diabetes complications and episodes of severe low blood sugar( hypoglycemia) can all impact the brain. If high blood sugar sticks around, it can stress out cells and harm nerves, making cognitive decline more likely. If diabetes isn’ t managed well, it can make memory and thinking tougher, raise your risk for stroke and even lead to permanent brain damage.

• Brain atrophy

Scientists have found links between diabetes and changes in the brain’ s structure, like thinning of the cortex and less gray matter, especially in areas that control memory and thinking.

• Inflammation and oxidative stress

Diabetes often brings ongoing mild inflammation and more oxidative stress, both of which can damage brain cells and blood vessels over time. These problems may help cause complications from diabetes and are also linked to Alzheimer’ s disease.

• Higher risk of memory problems and dementia

Diabetes can raise your chances of

OURHEALTHNWA. COM 8 NOVEMBER 2025 | BRAIN HEALTH ISSUE