Many people who have diabetes tend to suffer from memory problems, and for the first time now, scientists have been able to pin-point the reason behind it.

As has been revealed by a new research, high levels of the stress hormone known as cortisol often tends to slow down the functionality of the brain in people suffering from diabetes.

The breakthrough into understanding of the problem could now lead to new treatments for the issue, as has been stressed by researchers from the Edinburgh University.

For the sake of researchers, experts analyzed data collected from over 1,066 men and women from the age group of 60 to 75 years, all of who suffered from type-2 diabetes, which is the most common form of the condition in adults and has been directly linked to lifestyle factors like obesity.

"We know that type 2 diabetes is linked to problems with memory, but the reason behind this is unclear. This study shows that older people with diabetes who have higher levels of stress hormones in their blood are more likely to have experienced cognitive decline. It may be that by regulating cortisol levels, we could help improve cognitive decline in patients with type-2 diabetes", said lead researcher Dr. Rebecca Reynolds.