title: Challenges in the epidemiological investigation of the relationships between physical activity, obesity, diabetes, dementia and depression.
abstract: There are many challenges facing epidemiologists wishing to investigate relationships between physical activity, obesity, diabetes, dementia and depression, all of which are complex fields in their own right. There is a large literature investigating the relationship between diabetes and dementia but less, as yet, on the other exposures and outcomes. In this literature there is a diversity of definitions making rigorous systematic review problematic. There is a need to define hypotheses in this area very clearly and to identify studies that have addressed the specific question. Such exercises have not been carried out to date but would enlighten the research area and point more clearly to questions which remain to be answered. Our own research group has examined the specific question of risk of development of dementia in relation to levels of HbA(1)c, as a marker of glycaemic control and showed that although not related to dementia, it is related to incidence of severe cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge University, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 2SR, UK. cb105@medschl.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brayne
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*