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Diabetes may contribute to cognitive problems later in life

Category: Diabetes

When a person receives HbA1c test results indicating they have diabetes, cardiovascular health is probably the first thing that the patient and their doctor will be concerned with. However, new research suggest that the cognitive function of these individuals may also be at risk.

Researchers from the University of California, Davis reported in the journal Neurology that people who have diabetes, as well as individuals who have high blood pressure, are obese or smoke, experience declines in mental function at higher rates as they get older.

The team arrived at these conclusions after examining more than 1,300 individuals. The researchers took a variety of health measurements from the participants and followed their medical records for several years.

Results showed a strong correlation between cognitive decline and diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and smoking.

"Our findings provide evidence that identifying these risk factors early in people of middle age could be useful in screening people for at-risk dementia and encouraging people to make changes to their lifestyle before it's too late," said Charles DeCarli, who led the investigation.