Type 2 diabetes mellitus, brain atrophy, and cognitive decline.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

OBJECTIVE: To study longitudinal relationships between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cortical thickness, and cognitive function in older people with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: The sample was derived from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort who underwent brain MRI and cognitive tests annually for 5 years. Presence of T2DM was based on fasting blood glucose ≥7.0mml/L or the use of glucose-lowering agents. We used latent growth curve modeling to explore longitudinal relationships between T2DM, cortical thickness, and cognitive function, adjusting for relevant covariates and testing for interactions. RESULTS: There were 124 people with T2DM (mean age 75.5 years, SD 6.2) and 693 without T2DM (mean age 75.1 years, SD 6.9) with at least 1 MRI available. AD and lower cortical thickness at study entry was associated with a lower chance of having a MRI available at each follow-up phase (all p < 0.001). T2DM was associated with lower baseline cortical thickness (p = 0.01). We found no direct effect of T2DM on decline in cortical thickness or cognitive function, but there was an indirect pathway linking T2DM and cognitive decline via baseline cortical thickness (β = -0.17, p = 0.022). There was an interaction between T2DM and education whereby the negative effect of T2DM on baseline cortical thickness was reduced in those with greater education (β = 0.34, p = 0.037). These associations changed minimally when adjusted for baseline cognitive diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In an older cohort with low cerebrovascular disease burden, T2DM contributes to cognitive decline via neurodegeneration. Prior brain and cognitive reserve may protect against this effect.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Moran, C; Beare, R; Wang, W; Callisaya, M; Srikanth, V; Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI),

Published Date

  • February 19, 2019

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 92 / 8

Start / End Page

  • e823 - e830

PubMed ID

  • 30674592

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC7987953

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1526-632X

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1212/WNL.0000000000006955

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States