Alzheimer’s like brain changes correlate with low adiponectin plasma levels in type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract Aim To study the association between adiponectin plasma levels, and gray matter brain volume and cerebral glucose metabolism in a group of type 2 diabetes patients. Methods We studied 25 type 2 diabetes patients and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy control participants. Biochemical analysis and structural cerebral magnetic resonance imaging, including voxel-based morphometry and 18 -fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, were performed. The gray matter volumes and metabolism changes were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM8). Results Lower levels of adiponectin correlated with a lower gray matter volume in temporal regions and with reduced cerebral glucose metabolism in temporal regions (p  Conclusions Positive correlations between adiponectin plasma levels and both gray matter volume and cerebral glucose metabolism were found, predominantly in temporal regions, as in Alzheimer’s disease. Adiponectin might be a biomarker for the cognitive decline associated with type 2 diabetic patients.