Higher Blood Sugar, Worse Memory

Small increases in blood sugar may affect memory, a study says. When blood sugar goes up, blood flow to part of the brain decreases. That part, called the dentate gyrus, is important for memory. Researchers saw this trend in older people, and then did laboratory tests to confirm it. People with uncontrolled diabetes have high blood sugar levels. And doctors already know that people with diabetes are at higher risk for dementia and other thinking and memory problems. The study was published in the December issue of the Annals of Neurology. The New York Times reported on the research January 1.