title: Altered glycemia and brain-update and potential relevance to the aging brain.
abstract: Hyperglycemia characterizes diabetes mellitus and is linked to its chronic and acute complications. Cognitive dysfunction in diabetes occurs especially in longstanding disease and with poor glycemic control. Recent data in humans suggests that hyperglycemia causes acute cognitive dysfunction. The underlying mechanisms are unknown but deserve further research as diabetes is becoming epidemic and will likely contribute increasingly to premature cognitive decline. The primary side effect of diabetes treatment is hypoglycemia, particularly resulting from insulin treatment. CNS adaptations to acute and chronic hypoglycemia underlie the inability of some people to promptly recognize and defend against the risk of serious hypoglycemia. Data from human and animal models may help explain how altered glycemia affects brain function both acutely and chronically. Improved mechanistic understanding of altered glycemia's effects could prevent the adverse impact of diabetes upon the CNS and give new insights into effects that may exist in normal aging.
authors.affiliation: The Diabetes and Hormone Center of Excellence, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, PO Box 801407, Aurbach Medical Research Building, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. alm3j@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCall
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose