It is easily noticed that diabetes patients get easily depressed and forgetful, which has been attributed to psychological causes. A research team at SNU College of Medicine has found the scientific causes for the first time.

Professor LYOO In-kyoon has found a link between levels of 'glutamate' and symptoms of depression and memory loss in people with type 1 diabetes.

'Glutamate' is the most prominent neurotransmitter in the brain produced from glucose which is present in over half of all nervous system tissues.

In people with Type 1 diabetes, where the body cannot produce insulin, which is critical in converting sugar, starches and other food into energy, there was a pronounced increase in glutamate levels in the prefrontal cortex.

Lyoo's team has used"proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy" on 123 Type 1 diabetes patients and 38 healthy volunteers.

According to the result data, concentrations of glutamate were nine percent higher in the subjects with diabetes. At the same time, performances on tests of memory, executive function and psychomotor speed were lower in the diabetes group. An association with mild depression was also found. The depression affects up to 25 percent of people with type 1 diabetes.
"This disturbance was more pronounced among people who had more problems with sugar levels," Lyoo added.

This marks the first time scientists have found changes in metabolic materials in the brain triggering negative mood changes. Alan Jacobson, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School said"These findings could lead to new ways to both understand and treat these conditions."

Lyoo said the discovery opens new chemical treatment methods that could prevent diabetes patients from becoming depressed or inconvenienced by memory loss that can impair regular social activity.

The research was published in the latest issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

August 4, 2009
SNU PR Office