Dear Dr Garner,

I am concerned that my husband is becoming forgetful. This started about 2 years ago, when he was diagnosed with diabetes. He doesn’t take proper care of himself, eats whatever he pleases, and hardly ever checks to see what his sugar levels are.
Do you think the diabetes could be a factor, behind the problem?
I want to wish you and your family a happy new year, and I love reading the column each week. Please help me.

-Wife of Forgetful husband in Flushing

Dear wife of forgetful husband,

First, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and all our readers a happy and healthful new year. It is possible that poor control of diabetes can lead to forgetfulness.
There are interesting studies regarding diabetes and memory. It does not mean that if you have diabetes that you will become forgetful, but it should be seen as a risk factor, particularly if the diabetes is not properly controlled, as seems to be the case for your husband. Some interesting findings are as follows:
 1. Diabetics have a 65% increase risk for developing Alzheimer disease.
 2. Adults with diabetes who eat unhealthy, high-fat meals often experience memory lapses immediately after the meal lasting up to two hours.
  3. Numerous studies in the past 10 years have demonstrated a greater than average decline in the memory of diabetics.

Diabetics, who have poor control of their disease, have elevated levels of sugar in their blood stream. This elevated level, leads to decreased blood flow to the part of the brain responsible for memory, known as the hippocampus.  The most valuable tool in combating this process has been found to be exercise.
Studies of both animals and humans have demonstrated increased blood flow and improvement in activity in the “memory” area of the brain if one participates in a regular exercise regimen. This combined with medication and correct diet shows great promise in preventing the memory loss and even reversing it once it has occurred.
As in many of the diseases we review together, it is not the fancy pills or medical treatments that are most valuable, but something as simple as exercise.

This is a major finding with implications, not only for diabetics but for our senior citizens as well. As people age, their body has decreased efficiency in regulating sugar.
It is believed, that even though a person may not have full blown diabetes, that as one ages, the memory center of the brain becomes adversely affected by small elevations of sugar in the body. This in turn has a similar adverse effect on the memory center of the brain. It therefore is very important for people even without diabetes to maintain a light to moderate exercise regimen, such as walking 35 minutes, 5 times a week, along with careful dietary monitoring.

While more studies need to be performed, the early memory problems that diabetics experience are believed to lead to Alzheimer disease in some cases… This may be a result of the faulty insulin that diabetics produce.  This faulty insulin has been linked to development of abnormal chemicals that destroy circuits in the brain that people require to remember things.

Once again, however, with proper exercise, diet and if necessary, medication, there is a good chance one can avoid or lessen the chances this will occur.
The key thing to remember is prevention.
What can people do?
1. Maintain healthy weight.
2. Follow a regular exercise regimen- think of exercise as a pill- don’t skip it.
3. Proper diet is a key part of the prevention treatment- Set up an appointment with your doctor or a nutritionist to select the right diet.

As I noted above, the problem of increasing sugar levels is found in all people as they age. There is a test known as HemoglobinA1C, a simple blood test which is much more accurate than a fasting sugar level in depicting the regulation of sugar in your body.
This test summarizes the average sugar control for your body in the past 3 months.
It is important to know for both diabetics and non-diabetics, so that a plan of action can be made if abnormal.

I recommend this test for my patients and hope you will speak with your doctor about it.  In summary, while there is no guarantee that exercise will prevent forgetfulness, studies show a clear relationship which should not be ignored.

As we recently observed New Year’s Eve, and many, made resolutions, I thought I would make a suggestion about something we can do to improve our health in the coming year. A new study demonstrates a direct link between sleeplessness and heart disease.
There is a 5 times increased chance of developing heart disease, if one sleeps fewer than 7 hours per night.

The risk factor of insufficient sleep, for heart disease, is similar in importance to other risk factors, such as smoking and high blood pressure. I urge those who are not getting enough, to make adequate sleep a   priority in the year ahead.
Thank you for your interesting question and have a great week and be well.
See you on the  “Ask the Doctor” television  show on NET, every Tuesday at 8P.M.

* Reprinted with permission of The Tablet