Predicting cognitive ability in ageing cohorts using Type 2 diabetes genetic risk.
M Luciano1, R Mõttus, S E Harris
1Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association
|December 19, 2013
Summary
Higher genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes was linked to better cognitive function in older adults. This suggests shared genetic factors may influence both conditions, warranting further investigation into reverse causation.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment often co-occur in older adults.
- The underlying genetic relationship between Type 2 diabetes and cognitive aging is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore potential shared genetic determinants between Type 2 diabetes and cognitive aging.
- To assess if a genetic risk score for Type 2 diabetes predicts cognitive function variation in non-demented older individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Type 2 diabetes genetic risk scores derived from a large genome-wide association study.
- Analyzed data from 2775-3057 older individuals, assessing cognitive traits.
Main Results:
- Type 2 diabetes genetic risk score correlated with self-reported diabetes.
- A significant association was observed between Type 2 diabetes genetic risk and general cognitive function changes (median r = 0.04).
- Higher genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes was paradoxically linked to higher cognitive scores.
Conclusions:
- The study found an unexpected association between Type 2 diabetes genetic risk and cognitive function.
- Future research should explore polygenic risk scores for cognitive ability to predict Type 2 diabetes, investigating reverse causation.
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