High Hemoglobin A1c and Diabetes Predict Memory Decline in the Health and Retirement Study

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an established risk factor for dementia, but evidence for T2D and memory decline is less consistent. Understanding how T2D and blood glucose relate to memory decline is crucial to elucidating the mechanisms linking T2D and dementia. For 8888 Health and Retirement Study parti...

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Published in:Alzheimer disease and associated disorders Vol. 31; no. 1; p. 48
Main Authors: Marden, Jessica R, Mayeda, Elizabeth R, Tchetgen Tchetgen, Eric J, Kawachi, Ichiro, Glymour, M Maria
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01.01.2017
Subjects:
Aged
Biomarkers - blood
Cognition Disorders - blood
Cognition Disorders - complications
Dementia
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications
Female
Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis
Humans
Male
Memory Disorders
Middle Aged
Models, Statistical
Risk Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
ISSN:1546-4156, 1546-4156
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an established risk factor for dementia, but evidence for T2D and memory decline is less consistent. Understanding how T2D and blood glucose relate to memory decline is crucial to elucidating the mechanisms linking T2D and dementia. For 8888 Health and Retirement Study participants aged 50+, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured in either 2006 or 2008 and physician's diagnosis of diabetes was self-reported in the same year. Composite memory (z scored) was assessed biennially through 2012 using immediate and delayed word list recall or the Informant Questionnaire for Cognitive Decline. Marginal mean regression models for repeated outcomes were specified to predict memory decline as a function of diabetes or HbA1c, using age as the timescale and adjusting for health and social confounders. Diabetes was associated with a 10% faster rate of memory decline [β=-0.04 per decade; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.06 to -0.01). A 1 U increase in HbA1c corresponded with a 0.05 SD decrease in memory score per decade (95% CI, -0.08 to -0.03). Even among individuals with HbA1c<6.5% (threshold for diabetes), higher HbA1c was associated with memory decline (β=-0.05 per decade; 95% CI, -0.08 to -0.03). Diabetes accelerated memory loss and higher HbA1c predicted memory decline even in nondiabetics.
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ISSN:1546-4156
1546-4156
DOI:10.1097/WAD.0000000000000182