It has been said that diabetes which is not controlled properly can affect the brain causing memory or learning problems, even incidences of dementia, though how this occurs no one knows. There have been studies with individuals with Type 2 diabetes and in these studies it has been discovered that a part of the brain called the Hippocampus is affected causing memory loss. The culprit, neurodegeneration, caused by diabetes also occurs in the first stages of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson disease and caffeine can possibly help.
I usually have 2-3 cups of coffee a day, though I suspect the amount of caffeine is much greater in these cases of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson disease. I do have a slip of memory loss, and being the kind of person I am with Type 2 diabetes, I have gone out of my way to try such things as coffee extracts and other supplements including changing my diet and life style to overcome not only my weight gain, yet to also improve my memory. As you know diabetes is caused by high levels of sugar in the blood. In Type 2 diabetes the body becomes resistant to insulin, which is a hormone that allows the body’s cells to take sugar from the blood using it as a “fuel”. High levels of sugar become toxic in the blood which damages nerves, blood vessels and creates other complications. As scientist and doctors alike have studied the effect of coffee/caffeine on diabetics they have found that even though the drink doesn’t cure diabetes, caffeine does in many cases lowers the risk of Type 2 diabetes. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111133958.htm
Coffee/caffeine has been studied and found to have a protective effect and has been suggested that it prevents memory loss and possibly with those with diabetes. It has been projected that nearly a third of Americans over the age of 65, nearly 11 million people, have diabetes and that by the year 2034 nearly 15 million people 65 years or older will have diabetes. Diabetes is not as simple a disease as many think with cognitive functions at risk and aging as well. Doctors or psychiatry and neurology are now studying the effects of diabetes to help find a cure or at least a deterrent to the disease, because of its ability to deteriorate mental functions at a certain age in a person’s life. Coffee please!
Written By Donald Sammons
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Anything that tells me my morning cup of Joe is helpful is all right by me! I try to sneak in some green tea as well.
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