Health Watch: Diabetes Related to Slow Brain Function

DIABETES CAN TAKE IT'S TOLL ON THE BODY, BUT NOW NEW RESEARCH FINDS IT COULD EFFECT THE MIND AS WELL.  HERE'S MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT, JUDY FORTIN WITH TODAY'S HEALTH WATCH.

EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL, DIABETES COULD SLOW MENTAL FUNCTION
AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE IT.

A NEW CANADIAN STUDY LOOKED AT 570 PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 53 AND 90 AND MEASURED THEIR COGNITIVE SKILLS FOR THREE YEARS. 

RESEARCHERS  FOUND THOSE WHO HAD MILD CASES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES, WERE SLOWER AT TASKS REQUIRING RAPID RESPONSE.  AND AGE MADE NO DIFFERENCE.

ALTHOUGH THE DEFECT WAS NOT HUGE, IT DID APPEAR EARLY IN THE COURSE OF THE CONDITION, BUT DID NOT GET WORSE AS THE DIABETICS AGED.

AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY YOUR TEENAGER IS ON THE COMPUTER ALL THE TIME, LISTEN UP.  A NEW STUDY OUT OF THIS MONTH'S ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT MEDICINE, FOUND OVER HALF OF TEENS WHO NETWORK ON MYSPACE TALK ABOUT SEX, ALCOHOL AND VIOLENCE.

RESEARCHERS SAY THAT'S NOT GOOD BECAUSE ALTHOUGH MANY TEENS ONLY WRITE ABOUT RISKY BEHAVIORS OTHERS COULD BE CONTEMPLATING DOING THESE THINGS, OR BRAGGING ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY DONE.

THE LESSON HERE?  PARENTS SHOULD KNOW WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE DOING ONLINE.

FOR HEALTH WATCH, I'M JUDY FORTIN.