A biethnic community survey of cognition in participants with type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and normal glucose tolerance: the New Mexico Elder Health Survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance are at increased risk for cognitive impairment compared with individuals with normal glucose tolerance.


METHODS
Elderly Hispanic individuals (n = 414) and non-Hispanic white individuals (n = 469) aged > or =65 years, randomly selected from the Medicare rolls of Bernalillo County (Albuquerque), NM, were recruited for an interview/examination that included an evaluation of glucose tolerance. Information on nine tests of cognitive function and two measures of depression allowed comparisons between diabetic status and these functions. Comparisons also were made between glycosolated hemoglobin concentrations and these cognitive tests in the 188 participants with diabetes.


RESULTS
None of the mean scores on the tests of cognitive function was significantly lower in the participants with diabetes compared with those participants with normal glucose tolerance after adjustments for ethnicity, sex, age, level of education, and presence of depression, with or without elimination of those with dementia (Mini-Mental State Exam <18). Interestingly, participants with impaired glucose tolerance tended to score higher than those with normal glucose tolerance. No significant associations were found between glycosolated hemoglobin concentrations and cognitive test scores in participants with diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
We could not show any increased risk for cognitive impairment in participants with diabetes compared with those with normal glucose tolerance after adjustments for ethnicity, sex, age, education, and presence of depression, before or after elimination of dementia in this random sample from a biethnic population of predominantly community-dwelling elders.
Lindeman
R D
RD
Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5666, USA.
Romero
L J
LJ
LaRue
A
A
Yau
C L
CL
Schade
D S
DS
Koehler
K M
KM
Baumgartner
R N
RN
Garry
P J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003071:Cognition; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007858:Learning; D006278:Medicare; D008568:Memory; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009516:New Mexico; D012016:Reference Values; D014481:United States; D014888:Wechsler Scales; D044465:White People
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin