If confirmed, the findings could help further science’s understanding of high blood sugar levels, said Jacobson, noting that the emphasis has until now been on the association between low blood sugar and brain damage. Further, the findings on glutamate and its effects on the brain may lead to a new line of investigation into both types 1 and 2 diabetes in terms of interventions to improve the health of the brain, including possibly new medications for both diabetes and depression, he said. The study was funded by the National Institute of Health, the National Alliance for Schizophrenia and Depression, the Korean Research Foundation and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology.

Others participating in the research included: In Kyoon Lyoo, M.D., Ph.D., of McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Seoul National University, first author; Sujung J. Yoon, M.D., Ph.D., of Catholic University Medical College; Gail Musen, Ph.D., and Katie Weinger, Ed.D., of Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School; Donald C. Simonson, M.D., M.P.H., of Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Nicolas Bolo, Ph.D., and Perry F. Renshaw, M.D., Ph.D., of McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Christopher M. Ryan, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; and Jieun E. Kim, M.D., M.S., of Seoul National University.

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