While Halloween may look a little different than it normally does this year, the one constant is that there will undoubtedly be an influx of available candy in every store, office, and socially-distant gathering. While any food eaten in moderation can tie into an overall healthy lifestyle, Halloween candy is an excellent example of something that we can all relate to overindulging in. Aside from the obvious tummy ache and sugar crash, most of us assume that there isn’t much harm in overdoing it from time to time.
If having a bit of extra Halloween candy is truly a once-every-year experience, then it likely isn’t going to cause you long-term problems. However, when overindulging in sweets or other carbohydrates becomes a pattern, your blood sugar becomes chronically elevated (also known as hyperglycemic). Hyperglycemia, when severe enough, is called diabetes, and both can cause a host of problems, including neurodegeneration, memory decline, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, mood disorders, and more.
How can this be? And what can cause your blood sugar levels to rise?
Eating a diet high in sugar, simple carbs, and saturated fat can increase your normal blood sugar levels. Even consuming unbalanced meals that are too low in lean protein or healthy fats and carbs, or portion sizes that are too large can cause unhealthy spikes. Factors outside of your diet like stress, illness, dehydration, and lost sleep can also affect your blood sugar levels or your body’s ability to use insulin (1, 2).
But how does your blood glucose level affect your brain?
At the very least, chronic high-sugar diets often cause inflammation in the brain, which can affect overall brain function, especially memory (3). It can also affect something called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which is a growth factor that supports neuron survival and regeneration. Over time, a diet high in saturated fat and sugar (and the resulting elevated blood sugar levels) can reduce BDNF levels, synaptic plasticity, and other proteins that help regulate cognition and mood (4). Meaning: hyperglycemia can actually alter the brain’s structure and resulting function!
What do these brain changes lead to?
Any physical changes to your brain’s structure will lead to noticeable effects in your life. The reduced BDNF levels and synaptic plasticity mentioned above can lead to memory decline. Compounding this effect is the fact that chronic hyperglycemia, especially in those who have long-term diabetes, has been linked to lessened neural connectivity in the brain. This can lead to brain atrophy, and in some cases, small-vessel disease. Atrophy and small vessel disease both restrict blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of cognitive decline and vascular dementia (5).
Are there other links between memory decline, Alzheimer’s, and elevated blood sugar?
While many factors can cause memory decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, studies have found that those who have Alzheimer’s often have problems metabolizing glucose properly, meaning their insulin response is not functioning properly (6). Because insulin helps regulate brain cell survival and plasticity in the areas that are most prone to Alzheimer’s-causing neurodegeneration, it is no wonder that chronically raised blood glucose levels would seriously endanger the brain’s structure and function (6).
The increase in Alzheimer’s and the simultaneous increase in diabetes (with no known genetic predisposition) point further to this link. People with diabetes have higher rates of cognitive impairment and, unfortunately, at least twice the risk of developing Alzheimer’s than non-diabetics do (6). Other types of insulin-related disorders including pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high fat diet-induced obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are all linked to Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline (6, 7). Some of these disorders, especially type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), are considered risk factors because they lower the threshold for the development of dementia (7). Interestingly, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s such as dysregulated lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, inflammation, energy imbalance, and cell stress and death are all present in insulin-resistant diseases as well. This could be because Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and inflammation are all linked within certain gene clusters (6). One study even suggests that Alzheimer’s should be regarded as a brain form of diabetes (6, 7).
Even if the effects of raised blood glucose levels and the resulting impaired insulin function are not the cause of Alzheimer’s or memory decline, the reduction in the brain’s ability to use insulin properly is an argument for controlling blood sugar levels (6). Further, similar strategies involving blood sugar management have shown to help improve symptoms for both insulin-related disorders and Alzheimer’s, even in those who do not have both (6).
Are other brain disorders linked to hyperglycemia or diabetes?
Yes. They are linked to many others, like neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s, and mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Let’s talk about neurodegenerative diseases first: more than any other factor (including BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, education, age, sex, and alcohol and caffeine consumption), T2DM is associated with an increased risk of the development of Parkinson’s, especially for those who have had diabetes for longer than 10 years (7, 8, 9). Other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington’s and spinal muscular atrophy, are associated with glucose and insulin irregularities and diabetes (10, 11). Problems with glucose metabolism, including hyperglycemia, may even contribute to the initial development of spinal muscular atrophy (11).
As discussed in this article, mood and mental health disorders are being increasingly associated with brain disorders given their shared ability to change brain chemistry, structure, and function. So, in terms of the link between brain disorders affecting mood and diabetes, many studies are showing that diabetes and mood disorders are associated bidirectionally - each influencing and potentially worsening the other (12). The risk of depression in those with diabetes is up to twice as high as the general population, and given some of the shared mechanisms such as inflammation and poor dietary habits, may cause increased complications in those who are experiencing both (12, 13). Depression might even be a contributing factor to the risk of developing diabetes and hyperglycemia, and unfortunately, the same may be true with bipolar disorder (13).
What can you do to prevent your blood sugar levels from contributing to neurodegeneration?
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or any neurodegenerative disease, lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and good sleep are three factors that can bring real change. Shifting to a diet that is lower in carbohydrates, saturated fats, and sugar while higher in protein, healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, and fruits and vegetables can lead to more stable blood sugar levels and even weight loss - both of which can improve overall insulin sensitivity and prevent neurodegeneration (14). Intermittent fasting is another powerful way to reverse insulin resistance and improve hyperglycemia. Any form of exercise can help to improve insulin sensitivity and level out blood sugar levels, though dynamic strength training and high intensity interval training (HIIT) may bring the greatest benefit (15). Good sleep is crucial to overall brain health and is similarly important to healthy glucose metabolism and healthy weight (16). You can find more information on natural ways to improve blood sugar and overall insulin sensitivity in this article.
For those who have not been diagnosed with diabetes or any neurodegenerative disease, a healthy lifestyle is key to prevention. Diet, exercise, and good sleep habits are equally effective in preventing disease as they are in healing the body. If you are raising children, training them in these habits can prevent disease later in life.
If you are concerned about hyperglycemia, diabetes, brain health, or are simply curious to learn more, please reach out to us. We would love to talk with you and help you determine the best ways for you and your family to keep your blood sugar levels, brain, and overall selves healthy.
Jonathan Vellinga, M.D. is an Internal Medicine practitioner with a broad interest in medicine. He graduated Summa cum laude from Weber State University in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and completed his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Upon graduation from medical school, he completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Michigan. Dr. Vellinga is board-certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine and a member of the Institute for Functional Medicine.
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Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020, June 6). Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-management/art-20047963.
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