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According to new research conducted at the University of Dundee, antioxidants could help reduce cognitive impairment in diabetic patients because of low blood sugar.
Repeated episodes of hypoglycemia cause cognitive difficulties in diabetic patients, but the study, led by Dr. Alison McNeilly of the University's Faculty of Medicine, suggests that stimulation of antioxidant defenses at home the mouse reduces these deficiencies. This raises the possibility that one day, one can improve the quality of life of diabetics.
Dr. McNeilly will present her research at the Society for Endocrinology Annual Conference in Glasgow this week.
"Low blood glucose is an almost inevitable consequence of insulin therapy," said Dr. McNeilly. "These works demonstrate that by improving the body's antioxidant defense system, we can reverse some of the side effects associated with diabetes, such as poor cognitive function."
The long-term decline of cognitive function, the daily tasks of memory and learning becoming more difficult and time-consuming to complete, is a common consequence in patients who often have experience with it. hypoglycemia when they use insulin to manage their diabetes.
Previous studies in mice have shown that recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia result in an accumulation of harmful free radicals for cells in the brain.
It is not known whether this accumulation of free radical stress directly affects cognitive function or whether the body's antioxidant systems, which can eliminate free radicals, can be exploited to counteract these changes.
In this study, Dr. McNeilly and his colleagues used insulin to induce repeated episodes of hypoglycemia in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes. During the experiment, a group of mice has also received sulforaphane (SFN), an antioxidant of plant origin.
Mice treated with SFN showed increased expression of antioxidant markers, decreased free radical cell damage, and significantly improved cognitive ability in memory tasks.
Dr. McNeilly and her colleagues are now looking to find out if strengthening the body's antioxidant system can minimize the cognitive decline associated with hypoglycemia in humans by using drugs based on the chemical structure of PNS .
Dr. McNeilly added, "The concentration of SFN used in this study would not be achievable in a normal, high-vegetable diet, however, many extremely potent compounds have been the subject of clinical trials likely to prevent cognitive impairments caused by free radicals in order to help diabetic patients. "
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