The cognitive impact of Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is associated with worse performance on cognitive tests measuring abilities involved in the control of emotions, behaviours and thought, says a new study from the University of Waterloo.

The paper appears in Psychosomatic Medicine, and is the first comprehensive statistical summary of available studies that examine the link between type 2 diabetes and a reduction of certain cognitive abilities, known as executive functions. The executive functions inhibit habitual thinking patterns, knee-jerk emotional reactions and reflexive behaviours such as making impulse purchases or automatically following social cues.

Researchers reviewed 60 studies comparing 9,815 individuals with type 2 diabetes to 69,254 controls without it and examined their performance on measures of executive function.

“This facet of brain function is particularly important because we rely on it when we are attempting to behave in a way that is contrary to our natural inclinations or what the environment impels us to do,” said Corrie Vincent, a graduate student in the School of Public Health and Health Systems at Waterloo, and lead author on the study.

Health professionals encourage individuals with type 2 diabetes to consistently monitor their dietary choices, check their blood sugar and adhere to medication schedules. Type 2 diabetes is associated with decreased quality of life and a number of microvascular and macrovascular complications if not properly managed.

“The types of behaviours that are recommended to help individuals control type 2 diabetes are all things that do not come naturally to most people. Human beings have fairly reliable preferences for high-calorie foods and to resist medical routines that are inconvenient or time consuming,” said Professor Peter Hall, of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Waterloo, and senior author on the study.

Many individuals with type 2 diabetes experience burnout in managing their disease. The inability to self-manage the condition is often a source of concern among family members, physicians and even the patients themselves.

“The problem is the fact that effective diabetes management relies pretty heavily on executive function,” said Professor Hall. “Essentially people with Type 2 diabetes may be hit with the double whammy of having more need for executive control, but—possibly because of the disease's effect on the brain—less intact resources for exerting it.”

Recent studies suggest that older adults in particular can improve their executive function by engaging in cognitively stimulating activities and staying physically active have been shown help strengthen the area of the brain responsible for self-control. Seniors make up the largest demographic of patients with type 2 diabetes.

“Fortunately, there are a few things that can help optimize the brain structures that support executive function,” said Professor Hall. “Aerobic exercise and cognitively challenging activities — such as learning new things, solving difficult puzzles and other problem solving activities —all help to keep your brain sharp. Aerobic exercise is probably the most important, however, because it has benefits to both the brain and the rest of the body simultaneously.”

Approximately 600 million people live with type 2 diabetes worldwide, with nearly 800 million cases expected by 2030, making it one of the greatest global health concerns of modern times.  More than 2 million Canadians currently live with type 2 diabetes.

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Remembering Grace Schmidt

by by Amy Greene, Chao Yang, Mary McPherson, and Jirina Poch.

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that the University Writing Centre loses a dear friend and colleague. After a courageous battle with cancer, Grace Rita Schmidt passed away peacefully on February 17. Grace was a true artist, both inside and out.

She had a gift for friendship, her free spirit and joy touching every student, colleague, and friend who had contact with her. Her youthful energy put a smile on every face, and her gentleness and insight were hallmarks of her teaching.

She will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends at the Writing Centre. We will remember her as a lover of stories and a great storyteller, herself. She taught us to be more kind, patient, and accepting of all that life throws at us.

Grace started working at the Writing Centre in September 2013 on a part-time basis, and full-time in January 2014. Previously, she worked with WatPD, Renison University College, and the Dean of Mathematics Office. She was also a Waterloo alumna, with a degree in English.

Memorial donations can be sent to Lisaard House, Cambridge or Grand River Regional Cancer Centre.

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Lunchtime gender and equity event this week

The next event in the Gender and Equity Scholarship Series will take place on Thursday, February 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Lyle Hallman Institute’s Room 1703. Professor Bryan Grimwood of Recreation and Leisure Studies will present “Disrupting ‘Nature’ and ‘Responsibility’ for Just and Sustainable Arctic Tourism.”

The Gender and Equity Scholarship Series intends to assist not only with the promotion of gender and equity research currently being conducted at Waterloo, but also with the creation of networking opportunities for equity minded faculty on campus. 

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Join Waterloo's Habitat for Humanity Build

Handy with a hammer? Skilled with a saw? Talented with a t-square? Masterful at manual labour? Then you may be interested in joining a team of Waterloo staff and faculty for an exciting opportunity to work with your hands for a good cause.

“Come join us for the 2nd Annual University of Waterloo Habitat for Humanity Build,” writes Michelle Burlock of the Registrar's Office. “A team of Waterloo staff, faculty and alumni is now being assembled to build a Habitat for Humanity house in Prince Edward Island in the summer of 2015.”

The dates for the project are July 19 to 26. The cost to participate is $1,140 for the build plus airfare and $200 for "R&R." The build cost and the airfare are tax deductible.

"Construction experience is not necessary, but a flexible attitude and a sense of humour definitely is!” Burlock writes.

For those of you interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Michelle Burlock at mburlock@uwaterloo.ca.

“We will keep accepting applications until the 12 person team is full,” Burlock writes. 

Check out last year’s University of Waterloo build in Whitehorse, Yukon. 

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Lecture will talk "tactical urbanism"

The latest entry in the Winter 2015 Arriscraft Lecture Series will feature Aaron Betsky, the new Dean of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin. His lecture is entitled “Hunting and Gathering: Tactical Urbanism, Collage Architecture.”

Betsky has served as director of the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Netherlands Architecture Institute, as well as Curator of Architecture, Design, and Digital Projects at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He was also Director of the 11th Venice International Architecture Biennale.

Betsky is the author of a dozen books and over a thousand articles on architecture, design, and art, including the forthcoming What Is Modernism.

He writes a twice-weekly blog for architectmagazine.com. This year Betsky will co-curate the 5th Shenzhen Hong Kong Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism on Reliving the City.

The lecture takes place on Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lawrence Cummings Lecture Theatre at the School of Architecture.

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