Neurodegeneration and Excess Blood Sugar

While too little blood sugar appears to contribute to Alzheimer's, too much - as in diabetes - also brings on degeneration of the brain: "This research used imaging in both human volunteers and in animal models to help us better understand the basic mechanisms behind hippocampal dysfunction in the aged ... The research found that decreasing activity in the dentate gyrus only correlated with levels of blood glucose. ... Beyond the obvious conclusion that preventing late-life disease would benefit the aging hippocampus, our findings suggest that maintaining blood sugar levels, even in the absence of diabetes, could help maintain aspects of cognitive health. ... By improving glucose metabolism, physical exercise also reduces blood glucose. It is therefore possible that the cognitive enhancing effects of physical exercise are mediated, at least in part, by the beneficial effect of lower glucose on the dentate gyrus. Whether with physical exercise, diet or through the development of potential pharmacological interventions, our research suggests that improving glucose metabolism could be a clinically viable approach for improving the cognitive slide that occurs in many of us as we age."

Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-12/cumc-rac121508.php

Comments

curiously,..........as far as glucose metabolism affecting the brain as in the case of alzheimers and the interplay of physical exersise,is it possible that the exersise will burn to much sugar as to deplete its absorbtion into the brain?..........this leeds me to wonder if the exersise creates more bloodflow to the brain and that in itself affects the brain one way or the other...in fact could the lowering of blood pressure be a possible cause of brain deterioration due to the decrease of oxegyn flowing to it?

Posted by: william rice at February 28th, 2014 6:00 PM
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