A recent study showed that people with Type 2 diabetes had significantly lower total brain volume, as well as gray and white matter volume, according to a recent article from Diabetes in Control.

The study, conducted by Dr. Jane S. Saczynski of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, examined the brains of 4,415 elderly residents of Iceland by looking at MRI scans. Those participating in the study did not have dementia. From that group, 11% had Type 2 diabetes, while 36% had impaired fasting glucose levels, suggesting possible pre-diabetes.

Normoglycemic study participants had total brain volume of 72.2% while people with Type 2 diabetes had 71.5%. Type 2 diabetics in the study had gray matter volume of 44.9%, while those without the disease had 45.1%. As for white matter volume, Type 2 diabetics had 25.3%, while those without diabetes had 25.7%.

The longer the patient had the disease, the lower the total percentage of brain volume. Also, diabetics taking medication had a much lower percentage of total brain volume compared to those with the disease not taking medication.

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