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Type II diabetes and cognitive function. A population-based study of Native Americans
L P Lowe1, D Tranel, R B Wallace
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Diabetes Care
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Type II diabetes showed minimal impact on cognitive function in older Native Americans. Other factors like hypertension and depression significantly influenced cognitive performance, suggesting a complex interplay beyond diabetes alone.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Type II diabetes is a growing concern in Native American populations.
- Cognitive decline is a significant issue in aging individuals.
- Understanding risk factors for cognitive dysfunction is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between type II diabetes and cognitive function in older Native Americans.
- To evaluate the impact of other risk factors on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 161 Native Americans (45-76 years) from the Strong Heart Study.
- Cognitive function assessed using 13 tests.
- Data collected on depressive symptoms, physical function, alcohol use, hypertension, and myocardial infarction.
Main Results:
- Diabetes was linked to poorer performance on verbal fluency and similarities tests.
- Depressive symptoms affected verbal fluency but did not mediate the diabetes-related difference.
- Hypertension, depressive symptoms, and current alcohol use explained the diabetes-related difference in similarities performance.
Conclusions:
- Limited evidence suggests type II diabetes is not strongly associated with cognitive decline in this population.
- Other risk factors partially explain cognitive impairment previously attributed to diabetes.
- Future research should consider multifactorial influences on cognitive function in diverse populations.