Approved Research

Gestational complications and brain health across different glucose statuses

Lay summary

Cognitive impairment, as well as the dementia risks like higher white matter hyperintensity volume, lower total brain parenchyma volume, and lacunar infarcts, are increasingly recognized as severe complications of type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia are associated with increased future risk of type 2 diabetes. Previous researches have found that preeclampsia may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in aging women. To our knowledge, however, no comprehensive assessments have been found to confirm the risk of gestational complications on future neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, we will use data obtained from the UK Biobank to determine the association between gestational complications and subsequent risks of brain neurodegenerative diseases. The initial object of this study is to shed light on the potential impact of gestational complications on future risks of dementia and structural brain abnormalities. The second object is to further explore whether women with different glucose metabolic statuses impact the association between gestational complications and future brain neurodegenerative diseases. We are requesting information on pregnancy complications, subsequent health conditions, brain health conditions, demographic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that are potentially associated with type 2 diabetes. We expect the research to be completed within 3 years. Our goal accords with the stated purpose of the UK biobank, which identifies potential risk factors of serious medical conditions and provides more explicit information for clinical use, thus improving early prevention strategies of health problems that we face now.