High Blood Sugar Is Linked to Faster Brain Aging, Study Finds

From verywellhealth.com

Key Takeaways

• A study found that high blood sugar was associated with faster brain aging.
• Ongoing high blood sugar was tied to a greater risk of dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s, depression, and anxiety, along with smaller brain volume and worsened cognitive performance.
• The findings don’t prove that lowering blood sugar slows brain aging, since no intervention was tested, but they do add a brain-related reason to existing advice on blood sugar management and an overall healthy lifestyle.

In a recent large-scale study, researchers examined data from the UK Biobank, a massive long-term health database, and trained a machine-learning model to estimate “brain age” from MRI scans.1 In addition, they used specialized genetic testing to determine whether lifestyle factors (such as those that contribute to high blood sugar) or genetics determined brain age. Both tests found that high blood glucose is a strong predictor of “older” brain age.

                             Over time, high blood sugar can contribute to faster brain aging.  Tom Werner / Getty Images

What the Research Shows

The researchers examined nine molecules in the blood that reflect metabolic activity, known as plasma metabolites. Of the nine, glucose (blood sugar) stood out as having the strongest and most consistent link to an aging brain.

They did a genetic analysis using a technique called Mendelian randomization to determine if genetics or lifestyle factors were the driving force behind the brain changes. The results pointed to lifestyle factors (e.g., blood sugar), which further reinforced their findings.

The study also tied elevated glucose levels to real-world consequences beyond the brain scans. Higher glucose levels were associated with increased risk across seven brain-related conditions:

• All-cause dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease, specifically
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Parkinson’s disease
• Stroke
• Vascular dementia

Participants with higher blood sugar levels also tended to perform worse on tests of cognitive function and movement, suggesting the effects weren’t limited to disease risk alone but showed up in everyday brain performance. Using imaging, the researchers found that higher glucose levels were associated with smaller volumes across 80 distinct brain regions, providing a physical picture of what faster brain aging actually looks like.

Why Glucose Might Harm the Brain

Having ongoing high blood sugar is known to damage blood vessels throughout the body, including the small vessels that supply the brain. This damage can make it harder for blood to flow through them easily and keep oxygen and nutrients from reaching tissues.

High blood sugar levels are also linked to increased inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which can speed up cellular aging and damage nerve cells.

Issues with insulin signalling between the body and brain can contribute too. The brain relies on the hormone insulin to regulate energy use in brain cells. Disruptions that process (sometimes called brain insulin resistance) have been proposed as an important piece of the puzzle in understanding cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease.

Manage Blood Sugar to Keep Your Brain Healthy

It’s clear that glucose levels play a role in brain aging, but this study didn’t test a specific intervention and didn’t quantify how much blood sugar needs to change or over what timeframe to make a measurable difference in brain aging.

For now the practical takeaway is less about new advice and more about added motivation for guidance that already exists. Keeping blood sugar in a healthy range through diet, regular exercise, and routine wellness exams supports your heart and metabolic health.

It’s best to take this data as further motivation to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and consider speaking with your healthcare provider about any concerns related to your blood sugar management.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/high-blood-sugar-linked-to-faster-brain-aging-12014391 

Can diabetes damage your liver? Doctor flags early signs and prevention tips

From hindustantimes.com

Find out how diabetes can influence your liver health. If you are diabetic, you may be at an increased risk of fatty liver

The body's systems are closely interconnected. So a condition primarily associated with one organ can also affect others. Diabetes is commonly linked to the pancreas and blood sugar regulation, but its effects can go much beyond, affecting other organs, including the liver. Let's hear from an expert about this connection.

Dr Lubna Chingili, chief medical officer at the Global Innovation Centre, NURA, confirmed that high blood sugar can also affect the liver, increasing the chances of developing fatty liver disease. She explained, “Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance cause excess glucose to be converted into fat, which gets stored in the liver. Over time, this can lead to fatty liver disease (MASLD). Persistently high blood sugar also increases inflammation and oxidative stress, raising the risk of liver scarring (fibrosis) and, in some cases, cirrhosis.”

To put it simply, when the body cannot use insulin effectively, excess glucose may be converted into fat and stored in the liver, and as this fat further accumulates, it gives rise to fatty liver disease.

                                               Know the early warning signs of liver damage. (Shutterstock)

What are the early warning signs that may mean liver damage in a person with diabetes?

Usually, fatty liver disease's signs are tough to identify in the early stages, as it silently progresses without any noticeable symptoms. Even when any signs do appear, they can easily be mistaken for other lifestyle-related concerns, such as stress, exhaustion, or digestive discomfort.

But if you are vigilant, you can detect the early signs. Dr Chingili said, “When early signs do appear, they may include persistent fatigue, a feeling of heaviness or mild discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen, bloating, or unexplained changes in blood sugar control.”

This is why the doctor recommended routine testing, as it is more helpful than relying on visible symptoms alone. As per Dr Chingili, the first clue may be an abnormal liver function test or fatty liver detected through an ultrasound during a routine health check-up. Therefore, although early liver disease may remain silent, regular screening can aid people with diabetes detect liver damage before it progresses.

What are the management tips for a person with diabetes to protect their liver?

Managing diabetes consistently lowers fatty liver disease risks, too. Dr Chingili recommended the following measures:

• Control blood sugar levels: Monitor and manage blood sugar consistently, as persistently high levels may increase liver fat accumulation.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Reduces risk of fat storage in the liver
• Exercise regularly: Physical activity ensures weight management, which is necessary for metabolic health and diabetes management.
• Follow a balanced diet: Limit refined carbohydrates and added sugars, which may lead to high blood sugar and, in turn, fat accumulation in the liver.
• Limit or avoid alcohol: Alcohol stresses the liver and may worsen existing liver problems.
• Be cautious with medicines and supplements: Avoid unnecessary medications or supplements that may affect the liver.
• Get regular health check-ups: Go for liver function tests to detect any issues early.
• Manage blood pressure and cholesterol: They also affect liver health and should be managed alongside blood sugar.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/can-diabetes-damage-your-liver-doctor-flags-early-signs-and-prevention-tips-101786111419326.html

 

Got a Garden? New Research Says It Could Be Lowering Your Diabetes Risk

From startsat60.com

If you’ve ever needed a fresh excuse to get out into the garden, here’s a genuinely good one: new research from the University of Queensland has found that people with a home garden have a measurably lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The UQ-led study found people with a substantial garden had a 6.8 per cent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those who didn’t have one. Living near multiple parks made a difference too, with people 5.7 per cent less likely to develop the condition if they had several parks nearby.

What the researchers found

Lead author Dr Chinonso Odebeatu, from UQ’s School of Public Health, said the findings add fresh weight to the case for greenspace being treated as a genuine public health priority, not just a planning nicety.

“Current housing challenges means there are more high-density residential dwellings under development, and this research shows public health considerations need to be prioritised when planning greenspaces,” Dr Odebeatu said.

She said the findings showed a garden was about more than appearances. “The evidence shows having a garden is more than just aesthetics, because people’s health will be impacted if green space isn’t factored into residential developments.”

The study analysed data from more than 19,000 UK Biobank participants living with type 2 diabetes, assessing how much greenspace – including private gardens and parks within an 800-metre radius – was available at each person’s home address.

Source: Getty Images

Why gardens might make such a difference

Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne said there were several plausible explanations for the link between gardens and lower diabetes risk. Beyond the physical activity gardening naturally involves, simply spending time outdoors helps boost vitamin D levels and delivers genuine mental health benefits through what researchers call the “restorative” effects of green space.

“Being outdoors also exposes people to a range of microbes that improve gut health and boost the immune system,” Dr Osborne said.

The stakes are significant on a global scale. Dr Osborne noted more than 500 million people worldwide currently live with diabetes, a figure projected to nearly double to 1.31 billion by 2050.

“The findings from this study show how public health needs to be considered in urban planning because the decisions we make today will impact our future health,” he said.

The research, published in BMC Public Health, was conducted in collaboration with Boston’s Channing Division of Network Medicine, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Portland State University.

Why this matters for gardeners

For the many older Australians who already count gardening among their favourite pastimes, this research offers a genuine, evidence-based reason to keep at it – or to start, if you’ve been on the fence. It’s also a timely reminder for anyone downsizing into an apartment or townhouse to weigh up access to a balcony, courtyard or nearby park as more than just a lifestyle preference.

What to Do in the Garden This August

With spring just around the corner, August is a genuinely productive month in the garden – the perfect excuse to put this new research into practice. Here’s what to focus on, wherever you are in Australia.

Get planting. August is prime time for winter vegetables and herbs. Try beetroot, broad beans, carrot, kale, leek, lettuce, onions, parsnip, peas, radish, rocket, silverbeet and spinach, along with herbs like basil, chives, coriander, oregano, parsley, mint and thyme. In warmer, frost-free areas, you can also start tomato, capsicum, chilli and eggplant seeds indoors or under cover, ready for spring.

Finish your bare-root planting. This is the last real window for bare-rooted fruit trees, roses and deciduous plants before they begin shooting. If you’ve been meaning to add a new fruit tree or rose bush, get it in the ground now.

Prune and tidy. Finish pruning roses by mid-August, cut back passionfruit vines by around a third to encourage strong spring growth, and remove any spent or diseased flowers from azaleas and camellias after flowering finishes.

Feed and mulch. Top up mulch across vegetable patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds, and give tired winter soil a boost with a slow-release fertiliser or pelletised manure to wake plants up ahead of spring.

Watch for pests. Aphids often target the soft new growth on roses this time of year — a firm squirt with the hose is often all that’s needed, or encourage ladybirds into the garden as a natural, ongoing solution.

Look after your tools. On the cold, wet days that keep you indoors, take the opportunity to clean, sharpen and oil your garden tools. It’s a small job that saves both money and plant health in the long run.

https://startsat60.com/media/lifestyle/hobbies-lifestyle/gardening/got-a-garden-new-research-says-it-could-be-lowering-your-diabetes-risk 

Study Of Nearly 480,000 Adults Found This Hidden Diabetes Risk Factor

From health.yahoo.com/MindBodyGreen

By Ava Durgin

Study Of 480,000 Adults Found This Hidden Diabetes Risk Factor

Two people can step on a scale and see the exact same number. That doesn't mean they have the same metabolic health. That's why researchers are looking beyond body weight alone when assessing diabetes risk.

New research suggests that how your weight is distributed may matter just as much as the number itself. In fact, researchers found one combination of body fat and muscle was linked to a substantially greater diabetes risk than obesity alone.

Researchers followed nearly 480,000 adults for 14 years

To explore how body composition relates to diabetes risk, researchers analysed health data from 479,607 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank. None of the participants had type 2 diabetes when the study began, and researchers followed them for a median of 14 years.

Rather than looking at body weight or BMI alone, the team measured both body fat and muscle health. They assessed body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass relative to body weight, and handgrip strength, a simple but well-established marker of overall muscle function.

From there, participants were grouped into different body composition categories. The one researchers were particularly interested in is called sarcopenic obesity, which describes having both excess body fat and low muscle mass or strength. While obesity and low muscle mass have each been linked to diabetes before, this study asked what happens when they occur together.

                                                Study Of Nearly 480,000 Adults Found This Hidden Diabetes Risk Factor

Low muscle + high body fat = the highest-risk combination

Over the course of the study, nearly 33,000 people developed type 2 diabetes. The highest risk wasn't seen in people with obesity alone. It was seen in people with both obesity and low muscle mass.

Compared with participants who had healthy body composition, those with sarcopenic obesity were more than three and a half times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. They were also at greater risk than people who had obesity alone, suggesting that muscle health adds another important layer to the diabetes conversation.

Researchers also looked at how body composition changed over time. People who transitioned into sarcopenic obesity saw their diabetes risk increase, while those who remained in that category continued to have an elevated risk.

One reason this relationship makes sense is that muscle plays a major role in blood sugar regulation.

Your muscles are one of the body's biggest storage sites for glucose. Every time you walk, climb stairs, lift weights, or even stand up from a chair, your muscles use glucose as fuel. They also become more responsive to insulin, making it easier for your body to keep blood sugar in a healthy range.

When muscle mass declines, especially while body fat increases, your body loses some of that metabolic support.

Supporting your long-term metabolic health

This research also offers a more encouraging way to think about diabetes prevention. Instead of focusing only on what you're trying to lose, it highlights something you can actively build.

Muscle is remarkably responsive. Regular strength training, eating enough protein, and simply moving your body throughout the day all help maintain the tissue that's constantly working behind the scenes to regulate blood sugar. Even habits like walking after meals or carrying groceries contribute more than many people realize.

If weight loss is one of your goals, it's worth thinking about what you're actually losing. Protecting muscle while reducing body fat may be one of the most effective ways to support your long-term metabolic health.

The takeaway

Healthy aging and metabolic health aren't just about carrying less body fat. They're also about holding onto the muscle that helps your body move well, stay strong, and regulate glucose every single day. That's one more reason to think of strength training as an investment in far more than your muscles. It may also be one of the smartest things you can do for your future metabolic health.

https://health.yahoo.com/conditions/endocrine/diabetes/articles/study-nearly-480-000-adults-090100327.html