Seoul, August 04: South Korean scientists today claimed to have discovered the mechanism that causes depression and memory loss in diabetes patients, paving way for new ways of chemical treatment methods for the psychological ailments.
The discovery marks the first time scientists have found changes in metabolic materials in the brain triggering negative mood changes, they said.
The scientists from Seoul National University led Lyoo In-kyoon said the discovery is significant because symptoms like depression and forgetfulness were attributed to psychological causes in the past.
The latest findings, however, showed changes in glutamate were impairing normal brain activity. Researchers used “proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy” on 123 Type 1 diabetes patients and 38 healthy volunteers to reach their conclusion, Yonhap news agency reported.
Glutamate, the most prominent neurotransmitter in the body, 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 said.
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.
–Agencies